Speakers at a workshop have said that the number of road accidents will be reduced if a safe environment for students to walk to school is ensured in the country. The risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will also be reduced as walking to school plays a vital role in meeting the demand of daily physical activity.
Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, Civil Rights Protection Forum, Pallima Sangsad and South Point School & College jointly arranged the workshop on ‘Walking to School to Control Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)’ at Malibagh campus of the collegiate school in the capital on Thursday (December 9).
Jerina Ferdous, vice principal of the institution, presided over the function, while Gaous Pearee, director at WBB Trust, delivered the welcome speech.
Moderated by Ziaur Rahman, senior project officer of WBB Trust, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Shahnaz Begum, vice principal (English medium) of South Point School & College, Hafizur Rahman Moyna, president of Civil Rights Protection Forum, and Naima Akter, project officer of WBB Trust. Awal Kamruzzaman Farid, general secretary of Pallima Sangsad, Proma Saha of WBB Trust, Ahmed Hossain of South Point School & College, also attended the event, among others.
A number of students of South Point School & College took part in the workshop. They placed various problems and solutions in this regard.
In her speech, Gaous Pearee said that the non-communicable diseases are increasing rapidly in Bangladesh than other countries of South Asia. A study found that 97 per cent of people aged over 15 in the country are at the risk of NCDs. Walking to school can meet the demand for physical activity as well as reduce air pollution by reducing the use of vehicles. These will play a vital role in preventing NCDs, she added. Shahnaz Begum said that many students have to face various problems including accidents due to dilapidated condition of roads and sidewalks, lack of zebra crossings and lack of safe walking environment. “I hope that after today’s workshop, the students of South Point School & College will become advocates to ensure a safe walking environment,” she added.
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In her presidential speech, Jerina Ferdous said that not only walking, but also sports, socializing with the elderly, doing one’s own work, helping the households irrespective of the children are needed to ensure physical and mental well-being.
Naima Akher said that physical activity is ensured through walking to school. Physical activity activates our brain which helps in increasing attention. At present, 25% of the world’s carbon emissions are from vehicles. The more people walk instead of vehicles, the carbon emissions and pollution will be reduced.
