DOBOJ PARK IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUNGEST AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS

On the occasion of World Health Day, a series of sports activities and workshops for children were organized in the city park in Doboj, aimed at promoting physical activity, healthy lifestyle habits, and preventive health check-ups.

PHOTO: SRNA

This year’s slogan is "Healthy Beginnings, A Future Full of Hope," and the organizer of this project in Doboj is the gymnastics club "Sparta."

The coach of this club, Nemanja Cvijanović, told reporters that they prepared motoric obstacle courses for children with the goal of promoting physical activity and healthy eating as preventive measures against heart disease and other health issues, while also highlighting the importance of walking for older citizens.

The partner of the project is the Doboj Health Center, whose director, Vladimir Marković, stated that the entire week is dedicated to health promotion.

He noted that the activity is being carried out under the “Healthy Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina” program, funded by the Swiss Government, and implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska and the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Institute for Population and Development.

"The idea of the project is to raise citizens' awareness, promote healthy habits, and encourage them to think about and engage in activities that preserve health," said Marković.

According to him, these activities are supported by the Public Preschool Institution "Majke Johović" and the Health Committee of the Doboj City Administration, through the project "Let’s Grow Together."

The director of the "Majke Jugović" kindergarten, Anđelka Kuzmić, stated that through the program’s activities, children are taught healthy life habits and are helped to overcome their fear of healthcare professionals, so they can adopt the importance of preventive health practices from an early age.

The deputy mayor of Doboj, Dijana Kalenić, mentioned that the city is a partner in 24 local communities participating in the "Healthy Communities" project, recognizing the importance of raising awareness about disease prevention among the youngest citizens and those in the third age.

"Health is our greatest wealth, and somehow we are all finding it harder to preserve it together," she pointed out.

A representative from the Institute for Population and Development (IPT), Zvjezdana Stjepanović, stated that for 25 years they have been working to improve citizens' health and that they are organizing the first-ever Health Festival today in Doboj and Sarajevo, with an event in Banja Luka tomorrow.

"'Healthy Communities' is one of the projects that IPT is implementing in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska and the Federal Ministry of Health, with the support of the Swiss Government," she said.

She emphasized that the goal of the project is to raise public awareness of the importance of disease prevention and health promotion, and to engage local resources in this effort.

Stjepanović noted that the "Healthy Communities" project has been running for a year and a half, leading to the adjustment of legal provisions in line with the goals promoted by the project—establishing and strengthening services that work towards health prevention and raising awareness among citizens.