With air quality deteriorating across Delhi NCR and posing serious health risks to children, the urgency for comprehensive, preventive health education has reached a critical point.

Dr Rahul Mehra, India’s National Representative for the UNESCO Chair in Global Health & Education, said that, among others, we must work on long-term solutions including compulsory inclusion of health in the curriculum of middle classes.

On a visit to India, Mehra, a scientist with 70 patents to his credit mentioned the future of India, must start working on the future of health of India. “Children must be taught the many aspects of preventive healthcare from early on, and the time to introduce such a curriculum could not have been better than now,” Mehra told The Pioneer.

He also emphasized that health education can arm children with essential knowledge to better handle environmental and health challenges as they grow up.

Pursuing his passion Mehra, through his organization Tarang Health Alliance, is advocating for preventive health education as a means to combat rising health risks for Indian youth.

“If children in cities like Dallas & Detroit can breathe safely, why can’t our young ones in Delhi?” he questioned, highlighting the urgency of safeguarding children’s health.

An alumnus of Capital’s Modern School, Dr Mehra argues that introducing health education into school curriculums can empower students with the knowledge to make informed choices and adopt healthier behaviors, addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms.

Tarang Health Alliance, a non-profit organisation founded in 2016, has implemented a pilot program in 30 schools in Haryana, NCR, and Jaipur covering both government and private institutions. This initiative provides a structured curriculum that promotes physical, mental, and social health. The curriculum includes lessons on nutrition, hygiene, stress management, and conflict resolution, helping students foster lifelong health values.

In collaboration with the Haryana government, this program aligns with state welfare initiatives. "Our goal is to make health education as integral to a child’s learning as mathematics or science," Dr Mehra, who has also contributed over 100 research papers and book chapters, said.

Research indicates that preventive health education can significantly reduce chronic disease rates, which could decrease long-term healthcare costs and improve national health outcomes.

As the initiative gains momentum, Tarang Health Alliance aims to expand nationwide, advocating for health education to become a core subject for students in classes VI to VIII. Dr Mehra’s vision dovetails with the broader mission of "SwacchBharat, Swasth Bharat" (Clean India, Healthy India) and Viksit Bharat.

"By investing in preventive health education, we can cultivate a healthier, more aware generation equipped to face the challenges of tomorrow," Dr Mehra asserted.

With growing support from policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals, there is optimism that such initiatives will inspire policy changes, creating a ripple effect across India, added the IITian now settled in the United States of America.