Getting kids to lead healthy life

24 March 2013| last updated at 12:02AM

KOTA KINABALU: The state Health Department hopes that at least half of all primary schools in Sabah will have set up the Young Doctors Club by 2015 to promote health awareness among pupils.

The co-curricular activity was first introduced by the Health Ministry in 1989. It involves schoolchildren, aged between 9 and 12, who guide their friends in living a healthy lifestyle.

Department director Dr Christina Rundi said until last year, there were 1,652 schools, with 43,372 students, nationwide which had participated in the programme.

"However, in Sabah, only 146 of the 1,070 schools have joined the programme so far," she said at the launch of the state-level Zoomers Young Doctors Club 2013 at SK Inanam Dua here yesterday.

She said that the Zoomers was meant to promote and increase the number of schools participating in the state.

At the event, Dr Christina also flagged off four-wheeled vehicles that will help promote the club to schools in other districts in Sabah.