SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION
School health education
The term school health education refers to the learning experiences in health
which takes place in school.
It brings the child to gradually to realize the importance of health and to act
intelligently and in awareness.
WHO
An effective school health programme can be one of the most cost effective
investments a nation can make to simultaneously improve education and health
WHO global school health initiative strategies
WHO's Global School Health Initiative seeks to mobilise and strengthen
health promotion and education activities at the local, national, regional
and global levels.
WHO's Global School Health Initiative, launched in 1995.
What is a health promoting school?
A health promoting school is one that constantly strengthens its capacity as a
healthy setting for living, learning and working.
Engages health and education officials, teachers, teachers' unions, students,
parents, health providers and community leaders in efforts to make the school
a healthy place.
Strives to provide a healthy environment, school health education, and school
health services.
Implements policies and practices
Strives to improve the health of school personnel, families and community
members as well as pupils
Health promoting schools focus on:
Caring for oneself and others
Making healthy decisions and taking control over life's circumstances
Creating conditions that are conducive to health
Building capacities for peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable
ecosystem, equity, social justice, sustainable development.
Preventing leading causes of death, disease and disability: helminthes, tobacco
use, HIV/AIDS/STDs, sedentary lifestyle, drugs and alcohol, violence and
injuries, unhealthy nutrition.
Influencing health-related behaviours
Preventing leading causes of premature death, disease and disability
Many of today's and tomorrow's leading causes of death, disease and disability can
be significantly reduced by preventing six interrelated categories of behaviour, that
are initiated during youth and fostered by social and political policies and conditions:
i. tobacco use
ii. behaviour that results in injury and violence
iii. alcohol and substance use
iv. dietary and hygienic practices that cause disease
v. sedentary lifestyle
vi. sexual behaviour that causes unintended pregnancy and disease
National level School health programmes
➢ School Health Program is envisaged as an important tool for the provision of
preventive, promotive and curative health services to the population
➢ The programme which is functioning well in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Gujarat and West Bengal
Components of School Health Program:
Screening, health care and referral:
➢ Screening of general health, assessment of Anaemia/Nutritional status,
visual acuity, hearing problems, dental check up, common
➢ skin conditions, heart defects, physical disabilities, learning disorders,
behavior problems.
➢ Basic medicine kit to be provided to take care of common ailments prevalent
among young school going children.
➢ Referral Cards for priority services at District / Sub District hospitals.
➢ Immunization:
i. As per national schedule
ii. Fixed day activity
iii. Coupled with education about the issue
➢ Micronutrient (Vitamin A & Iron Folic Acid) management:
i. Weekly supervised distribution of Iron-Folate tablets coupled with education
about the issue
ii. Vitamin-A as per national schedule.
➢ De-worming As per national guidelines
i. Biannually supervised schedule Prior IEC with intimation to families to bring
siblings to school on the fixed day
ii. Siblings of students also to be covered
School health programmes in Kerala
➢ Arogyakeralam programme. The School Health Programme rolled out in the
State from July ‘09 as a unique joint venture of the Departments of Health,
Education, Sports, Council and Local Self Government.
➢ Junior Public Health Nurses @ one for 2,500 students will be especially
recruited.
➢ The benefits of the School Health Programme will be extended to approximately
9.50 lakh students, both from Government and aided sectors, in 992 schools
across the State during the first phase.
➢ Helping the nation build a bright and healthy generation, equipping them
to make healthy choices and for planning to maintain a healthy population
in the future.
