Every year Nepal government celebrate ''School Health Education & Nutrition Week'' with various school based activities on 1st week of Jestha. Overview of School Health program adopted from National School Health and Nutrition Strategy, Nepal, 2006 was posted here;
Global Initiatives in School Health and Nutrition Programme
Global Initiatives in School Health and Nutrition Programme
The history of school health can be traced as early as 1700 AD when John Locke emphasized inculcating health rules among children. In 1832, Horac Mann advocated the need for training the teachers in health education.
The World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on School Health Services, around 1950s, highlighted a connection between health and education that to learn effectively children need good health (WHO, 1950). In the late 1980, definition of school health changed as societies changed.
The following eight areas of SHNP were identified (Allenworth D, Kolbe L. eds, 1987):
- School health services;
- School health education;
- School health environment (physical and psychosocial);
- Health promotion for school personnel;
- School outreach programme and school-community projects;
- Nutrition and food safety;
- Physical education and recreation; and
- Mental health, counseling and social supports.
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The Focusing Resources on Effective School Health (FRESH) is the most recent approach
of school health, hygiene and nutrition programme. It is a merger of the concept of “Child Friendly School” of UNICEF and “Health promoting school” of WHO. It realizes that health and education go hand in hand in school3: The convergence of health and education categorically represents by four core elements.
- Health-related school policies
- Healthy, safe and secure learning environments
- Life skilled-based health education
- School-based health and nutrition services
The FRESH approach gave an impetus to multi-sectoral approaches (e.g. education, health, sanitation and nutrition) in school settings.
Scope of School Health and Nutrition Programme
The school health and nutrition programme encompasses school programmes jointly organized by education and health sectors to enhance health, nutrition and education status of children aged 5-17 years by improving use of school-based health and nutrition services, safe water and sanitation and skills-based health education and community support and policy environment.
According to FRESH approach, the school health and nutrition promotes following sub-areas under each core elements:
1) School-based health and nutrition services
School can effectively deliver health and nutrition services provided the services are simple, safe and familiar, and address problems that are prevalent and recognized as important in the community.
- Micronutrient deficiencies: Iodine, iron and Vitamin A
- Worm infestations: Round worm, hook worm and whip worm
2) Healthy, safe and secure learning environments
- Provision of safe water and sanitation
- Reinforce health and hygiene education
- Sound construction policies to address issues such as gender access and privacy
3) Skills-based health education (SBHE)
- It is an approach to health, hygiene, and nutrition education focuses on developing the knowledge, attitudes, values and life skills that young people need to make and act on the most appropriate and positive health related decision
- Beyond physical health to include psychosocial and environmental health
4) Health related school policies
- Ensure and secure physical and psychosocial environment; address issues such as:
- Abuse of students-child labour, girls trafficking, use of children in public activities etc.
- Sexual harassment
- School violence and bullying
- Guaranteeing further education of pregnant school girls and young mothers, and
- Reinforce health education for teachers and students.
- Promote overall health, hygiene and nutrition
Goals and Strategic Objectives
Goal : Develop physical, mental, emotional and educational status of school children
Sub-goal : Improve health and nutrition status of school children
Strategic Objectives (S.O):
The strategic objectives of School Health and Nutrition Programme will be to:
- S.O. 1: Improve use of School Health and Nutrition services by school children
- S.O. 2: Improve healthful school environment
- S.O. 3: Improve health and nutrition behaviors and habits
- S.O. 4: Improve and strengthen community support systems and policy environment.