In a powerful call for change, renowned scientist and public health advocate Dr. Rahul Mehra India’s National Representative to the UNESCO Chair on Global Health and Education and Executive Chairman of the Tarang Health Alliance recently launched a new campaign titled ‘5-4-3-2-1-0: Countdown to a Healthy Life!’ at a media workshop held in Chandigarh.
Dr. Mehra highlighted India’s troubling health statistics, pointing out that while the average life expectancy in India is around 70 years, people tend to remain in good health only until about age 60. He attributed this to the growing burden of physical and mental illnesses. Alarming figures show that one in four Indians is affected by diabetes and one in ten suffers from heart disease. Additionally, mental health concerns, especially among young people, are on the rise. Dr. Mehra stressed that the most effective strategy for reversing this trend lies in prevention, which begins with health education at the school level.
“If we want to improve India’s future health outcomes, we must start by nurturing healthy habits in our children,” Dr. Mehra stated. “Changing adults is tough, but equipping children with essential life skills early on ensures lasting benefits. The 5-4-3-2-1-0 model is a science-backed, easy-to-follow roadmap that can make that happen.”
The campaign promotes six essential daily practices through a simple numeric countdown:
- 5: Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day
- 4: Wash hands thoroughly with soap at least four times a day (after using the toilet and before each meal)
- 3: Include three portions of protein-rich foods in the daily diet
- 2: Limit recreational screen time to under two hours daily
- 1: Engage in a minimum of one hour of physical activity daily
- 0: Eliminate tobacco, sugary drinks, and salty processed snacks
These recommendations are intended not just for students, but to involve entire families and schools in fostering a healthy lifestyle. Schools are encouraged to adopt the campaign in daily assemblies, have students take a health pledge, organize creative activities like poster-making contests, and involve parents through PTAs and local outreach events. A unique initiative called “Postcards to the Prime Minister” invites children to express how these habits could contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat (a developed India) by 2047.
Tarang Health Alliance, the organization behind the campaign, was established in 2016 as a non-profit dedicated to integrating health education into school curriculums. Its flagship Comprehensive School Health Programme currently benefits over 9,000 students across 30 schools, imparting lifelong skills for physical, emotional, and social well-being.
