"Literacy is the foundation of quality healthcare"

Nowadays, the health of a society is one of the key indicators of a country's development. And the foundation of health is health literacy. This topic is especially important for the younger generation, as literacy is the starting point for taking responsibility for one’s own health, using medical services appropriately, and understanding the importance of preventive measures.
For this purpose, medical interns from our academy, under the guidance of Aidanа Absadyk Yerseitkyzy, Assistant of the “Pediatrics-1” Department, visited a school where they delivered lectures and demonstrated practical skills. The lectures were presented to 9th and 10th grade students of School No. 50, with individual sessions held for each class. The participants included interns from group IPQ-01-24, as well as Nazерkе Nurlubek Nurgaliyevna, an intern from group IPQ-02-24. Bakhadir Jakhangir Sherzаdоvich, Mukhamedzhan Sabina Talgatovna, Sakhibek Dinara Amangeldievna
conducted a lecture on the topic "Beware of Vapes!", Kabyla Symbat Zhandarbekovna, Rzuwan Dinmukhammet Kurbanaliyevich, Saparbekova Balzhan Zholdasovna
delivered a lecture on "First Aid Provision" and demonstrated the corresponding practical skills.

Health literacy is a person's ability to understand and properly use information necessary to maintain their own health and the health of those around them.
It includes:
• Taking responsibility for one’s own health;
• Knowing how to provide first aid;
• Understanding the importance of vaccination;
• Being aware of the consequences of harmful habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs);
• Eating properly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• Recognizing early signs of illness;
• Seeking medical help in a timely manner.
Why is this important for school students?
Adolescence is a key period in the formation of an individual’s personality. The knowledge and skills acquired during this stage remain throughout life and influence one’s behavior. A health-literate student:
• Can help both themselves and others;
• Is capable of making the right choices (e.g., avoiding harmful habits);
• Will make informed medical decisions in the future;
• Contributes to the development of a culture of health in their family and society.

Quality healthcare is closely linked to public health literacy
No matter how advanced a country’s healthcare system is, if the population has a low level of health literacy, it reduces the effectiveness of that system. This is because:
• Many people are unaware that diseases can be prevented;
• They seek medical attention too late;
• They trust misinformation and engage in self-treatment.

Literacy is the foundation of quality healthcare
This is important not only for doctors and medical professionals, but for every citizen. Especially if schoolchildren begin learning about health from an early age, there is no doubt that a healthier generation will grow up in the future.