Social Health Clubs

 Concept Note on Social Health Clubs

 

Introduction:

 

This note tries to lay down the conceptual framework for Social Health Clubs in educational institutions. Social Health Club is designed as an intervention that would create a platform for thought and action where the health of the society as a whole is advanced without commercial distractions.

 

Background:

 

The challenges in the space of ensuring good health are changing. From fighting diseases, the attention has rightly moved to preventive and promotive health. At the same time, non-communicable diseases have increased calling into question the lifestyle choices that society can make. A suboptimal way of life has gained social sanction and commercial currency. The new generation is exposed to an exponential and volatile world in which the presence and impact of narcotic drugs and alcoholism are increasing. The need to be not swayed away by the modern lifestyle from the traditional and healthier alternatives needs emphasis.

 

Structure Proposed:

 

A social health club would be an association of students, with teachers and parents as patrons in the educational institutions. The body would be having the focus on the social aspects of health in which the health of individuals is influenced by social factors rather than biological factors.

 

The club can decide on its bye-laws and identify the activities it wants to take up to promote the course of social health.

 

The structure and subscription for the club in an educational institution would be decided in a decentralized manner. Model bye-law for the club is Annexure-1 and is only recommendatory. It is also envisaged that there would be some mode of interaction and collaboration between the social health clubs in the educational institutions at the cluster, district, state, national and international levels achieved through annual conferences and social media groupings.

 

Activities proposed:

 

The activities that would be taken up by the club are to be decided by the club in a decentralized democratic manner. Various competitions like speech-making, poster-making, video-making, and debates could be organized by the clubs to advance the cause of health for society in a non-commercial manner. The objectives for the events like talks and interactions for the club are also suggested in the annexure.

A suggested pledge for the members of the club with which to initiate deliberations and activities also has been made annexure-2.

 

Incentivization:

 

The activities of the Social Health Clubs are envisaged to be low on budget and high on impact-done at a decentralized level. However, there could be some incentivization of the activities coordinated at the national, state and district, and cluster levels. This could include sponsoring prizes for the activities organized by the Social Health Clubs. This incentivization is sought to be done on a volunteer basis. At present, the organizations as in Annexure -3 have come forward to provide support and incentives for the Social Health Clubs. It is envisaged that the effort to mobilize support will be continued. Organizations, individuals, and Governments at all levels are sought to be pursued for suitable support for the effort.

 

Need:

 

Governments and markets have their unique difficulties in addressing an issue with social overtones. Governments are prone to be tied up to what is popular rather than what is true or required in the long run. Similarly, markets are driven by commercial considerations which may not be easy to accommodate in a sphere where the health of humans is the question and commodification cannot be the answer. Therefore, there is a need for action by Civil Society deliberated and guided in a transparent and accountable manner. The steps as required by markets and Governments would also require to be piloted by civil society action wherever possible.

 

How the effort can be supported? :

 

The first phase would be the communication regarding the concept to the decision-makers in educational institutions. All individuals can play a role in helping educational institutions make an informed choice in this regard - as a student, teacher, parent, or a well-wishing old student of an educational institution.

 

The next step could be pitching in to suggest and design activities for the clubs. The efforts made by the clubs would also need wide dissemination which would, in turn, improve the reach of the concept.

 

A third intervention could be financial support to the Social Health clubs by sponsoring some of their activities in a decentralized and direct manner.

 

The fourth form of support could be supporting the organizations promoting the concept by becoming a member or donating to the effort. The details of the organizations which have expressed support for the cause are in annexure-3.

 

The fifth form of support could be deciding on supporting the cause at an organizational level. To support the cause, the organization could be enlisted as a partner in the framework. The list of partnering organizations as of date is in annexure-3.

 

Conclusion: 

Through committed action by the community, there can be a difference in social spaces 

where governments can’t reach and markets don’t care. Those interested in supporting the cause may reach out at 3sandourhealth@gmail.com or  +91 83058 40890.