Sanofi India joined hands with PVR Nest for its ‘Healthy children, happy children’ initiative to launch a student-led campaign on children’s health. The program titled CineArt ‘Healthy children, happy children’ aims to bring together leading Indian pediatricians, with NGOs and artists in the field of creative learning, to mentor 2,00,000 school children from 200 schools (an equal mix between public/privately held schools and NGO/community schools) in four cities—Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, on critical aspects of children’s health. By utilising non-authoritarian and creative techniques in schools using art and cinema, the programme intends to make children’s health education real, innovative and participatory.
Reportedly, 600 health workshops using experiential learning methodologies like puppetry, theatre, storytelling and capacity building exercises, will be tapped to sensitise children on relevant health topics like hygiene, environment, play and exercise, disability and discrimination, vaccination, ergonomics, among others.
Joanna Potts, Commercial Operations Officer (COO)- Sanofi India stated, “Through our new ‘Healthy children, happy children’ initiative, we aim to diversify and adapt our healthcare offer to young Indian patients, with innovative products, services and awareness initiatives. We are delighted to partner with PVR Nest for a first-of-its-kind interface between pediatricians, NGOs and artistes for this innovative, year-long school awareness programme on health. We are looking forward to seeing children-in-action during the school health workshops, and also, during the making of original ‘Healthy children, happy children’ health films and publication.”
The year-long educational programme on child health will result in the formation of around 200 ‘Healthy children, happy children’ School Clubs. The clubs will have an outreach within schools, as well as to parents and communities outside, to sustain health education and awareness. A film making process wherein eminent film makers will be training selected students from shortlisted schools, to make original health films is another step that would be implemented. PVR cinemas across the country would display them with key messages on children’s health.
Reportedly, the launch event at Delhi was attended by leading Delhi pediatricians, school founders and students of the 50 participating schools, and graced by Dr Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, as the Chief Guest. Special Guests and speakers also included Dr Rajeev Seth, President, Indian Academy of Pediatrics Delhi, and eminent theatre actor, Shivani Wazir Pasrich.The programme opened with an original children’s theatre production on health, and also saw the launch of a special campaign film featuring children, to drive home the message of health.
Talking about this initiative, Renaud Palliere, CEO- International Business, PVR said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Sanofi India to create education and action on the very important issue of children’s health. We look forward to developing a sustained partnership with India’s leading pediatricians, schools and experts who are participating in this program. As a film exhibition company, we will provide the best possible outreach to the original films the students will make during this campaign, through our presence in 37 cities country wide.”
EH News Bureau