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School Health..
After years of experience of establishing and implementing school health in Pakistan we have come to the conclusion that viable, sustainable, long term and effective intervention to promote school health can only be guaranteed by making "Health Clubs" at school level. Initially a lot of effort is required to set up these clubs as per a format that we have developed but in 1-2 years these clubs become more independent and self dependant. In this world of fast communication coordination between the club members and a Central Coordination Center (CCC) is quite easy and efficient.
Healthy living incase of school children is the prime concern of all stakeholders including principals, parents, teachers and the community.
To achieve this objective collective responsibility needs to be assumed. An important dimension is that of experience and development of health skills and physique through practical engagements with play, exercises, sports and practices of personal and community hygiene.
Health and Wellness Clubs in Schools focus on the overall well being comprising emotional, social and mental health of the child. They act as the enabling and organizational point for conducting activities related to various dimensions of health and wellness. A Health Sheet is made for students, which forms a continuous part of their growth and development. This could form an effective monitoring and feedback system for the overall health of a child during his schooling.
Constitution of School Health Club
- Principal or Biology Teacher as Convener
- Psychologist / P.E. Teacher / Biology Teacher as Secretary
- Student representative (at least 2 students from each class)
- Identified Teachers
- Parents (preferably doctors/medical background)
Responsibilities of the Health Club
- As an organizer of all health relevant activities (at least 8-10 activities in the year at each level).
- As a Resource Centre for the overall well being of students
- Giving health education
- Creating "Health, Hygiene & Fitness" awareness in the society / community
- Supporting national and international health related issues / days.
Objectives of the Health Club
- To organize "Health Week" annually
- Provide First Aid & manage a First Aid Corner in the school
- Keep liaison with a doctor in the school vicinity who can be available either free or on nominal payment in case such help is required
- To create a health newsletter at least twice a year/poster competition related to health issues
- To conduct surveys on health related concerns
- To organize `health walks’ as part of social campaigns
- To organize health fairs and immunization campaigns (Vaccination Week)
- To tap the local resources in the community to arrange health talks
- To render service in any area affected by a disaster or a calamity
- To create health help line within the school to cope with emotional and social behavior and to clarify misconceptions regarding sexual and reproductive health
- To teach the students techniques of exercise & yoga from an early age
- To inculcate in the students healthy and positive ways of living
- To make their mates understand the importance of "Balanced Diet"/Health Eating Habits
- To teach health songs on various health topics and organize essay / speech competitions with health promoting themes
- Celebration of important days (e.g., World Health Day – April 7)
- Creating awareness regarding `World No Tobacco Day’ (May 31), `World AIDS Day’ (December 1) etc.
Health Ambassadors:
Student members of the "Health Clubs" act as the Ambassadors of Health in their class and community. They are kept in constant contact with a central IHS Health Club helpline based in Islamabad where the member can call and coordinate his/her activities. The members are given school bags with health promoting punch lines, for instance: "TB is curable", "Prevention is better then cure", etc. The Health Ambassadors under take the following activities that are laid down in the 'yearly plan' of the club:
Create health awareness in their community
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Organize health promoting activities
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Promoting vaccination as a measure of prevention
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Teach first aid
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Help the sick class fellows
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Promote hygiene & cleanliness
Little Doctors Club:
Children who aspire to become doctors in future can be grouped under this category. These children are trained to detect illnesses, epidemics, contagious diseases and advise and monitor hygiene and cleanliness issues in their school and community as Class 'Health Proctor'.
IHS suggests a large number of activities in the table below for various levels of classes, which can be conducted as part of co-curricular inputs during a calendar year. The activities mentioned here are recommended as pointers and many more can be added as per local needs and requirement. We are also in the process of preparing a manual on a Comprehensive School Health Program, which will be available shortly.
