How should concepts of health, disease and environmental determinants of health be included in curriculum of health and physical education?

It is well acknowledged that health is a multidimensional concept and is shaped by biological, social, economic, cultural, and political factors. Access to basic needs like food, safe water supply, housing, sanitation, and health services influences the health status of a population and these are reflected through mortality and nutritional indicators. 

Key Points

•  Health is a multidimensional concept because it is shaped by biological, social, economic, and cultural factors.
• The concerns related to health, nutrition, disease, and environmental determinants of health that contribute to the overall development of the child, therefore need to be part of the curriculum on ‘Health and Physical Education’ at the primary, secondary, and senior secondary schools.
• The concept should start from the primary classes through experiential learning.
• Experiential learning is learning through or by experiences.
• Students learn mostly by doing so different activities, role play can be conducted regarding health.

Thus, it is concluded that Experiential learning from primary classes should the concepts of health, disease, and environmental determinants of health be included in the curriculum of health and physical education.