PERSONAL SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH (SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME)
SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME
School health programme can be defined as a planned way of taking care of the health needs of students and teachers in school
Also:
A School Health Programme cab be define as a carefully planned set of activities and services that promote the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of students, teachers, and the entire school community.
it is designed to prevent diseases, promote healthy habits, and create a safe learning environment where children can grow and learn in good health.
Importance of the School Health Programme
- It helps to prevent the spread of diseases in schools.
- It promotes good hygiene, nutrition, and healthy habits among students.
- It ensures early detection and treatment of illnesses.
- It creates a healthy and safe school environment.
- It teaches students how to take care of their health and the environment.
- It reduces absenteeism due to sickness.
- It improves learning, performance, and overall development of children.
Major Components of a School Health Programme
- School-Based Health Education – This means teaching students in school how to live healthy lives, like how to stay clean, eat well, avoid sickness, and care for their body and mind.
School health education includes lessons
- Personal hygiene
- Nutrition and proper eating habits
- Exercise and physical activity
- Safety and accident prevention
- Prevention of diseases (e.g., malaria, HIV/AIDS)
- Emotional and mental health
- School Health Services – These are the health checks, first aid, treatments, and referrals given to students when they are sick or injured in school.
School health services include
- Regular medical check-ups (eyes, ears, skin, teeth).
- First aid and treatment of minor injuries or illnesses.
- Referral of sick students to hospitals or clinics.
- Immunization against diseases.
- Keeping health records of students.
- Healthful School Living / Healthful School Environment – This means making sure the school is clean, safe, and healthy, with good toilets, clean water, fresh air, and no dangerous things around.
the Healthful school activities include
- Clean classrooms, toilets, and school compound
- Safe and clean drinking water supply
- Proper waste disposal (dustbins, toilets, drainage)
- Good lighting and air ventilation
- Comfortable and safe furniture
- Safe playgrounds and school buildings
- Quiet and peaceful learning environment
- Safe storage of food and chemicals
- Prevention of overcrowding in classrooms
- School Feeding Service – This involves giving students healthy and balanced meals while they are in school, so they don’t go hungry and can learn better.
Reason for school feeding programme
- To Improve students’ nutrition and physical development.
- To Prevent hunger during school.
- To Encourage regular school attendance.
- To Teach students about healthy food choices.
- School-Home-Community Relationship – This means the school working together with parents and the community to care for students’ health and teach them healthy habits both in school and at home.
School-Home-Community Relationship activities include
- Regular communication between parents and the school.
- Involving parents in health-related school activities.
- Health talks or programs for parents and community members.
- Working with local health workers or clinics.
- Creating awareness on community health problems.
- Encouraging community help in school sanitation and feeding.
- Supporting children with health or emotional problems.
- Organizing clean-up exercises with parents and students.
- Promoting shared responsibility for children’s health.
- Planning health days or campaigns with local support.