School Health Promotion Programme
Establishing healthy behaviour during childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviour during adulthood. Children spend about 6 hours in the classroom every day for up to 13 years which are also the most formative years of their lives. School in partnership with parents and communities can be powerful agents to promote health and prevent disease.
The basic objective of the School Health Promotion Programme is to create awareness and inculcate healthy habits among school going children. And to ensure that children take these health messages and practices to their home, share it with their peer groups, neighbourhood and wider community. They become an agent of change in the society.
Key Activities:
- Baseline assessment of the schools
- Formation and training of new school health management committee (SHMC) on various issues such as personal hygiene, healthy eating, physical activity, harmful effects of health destroying products
- Strengthening of already formed School Health Management Committee
- Distribution of IEC materials such as leaflets and posters in the local language
- Supply of essential materials such as first aid kits, dustbins, hand soaps, cleaners and dusters
- Organizing competitions on health topics like Green Diwali- Rangoli, poster competition on personal hygiene, road safety and healthy eating; Healthy cooking etc.
- Nukkad Natak (street plays) on various issues such as unhealthy food and drug addiction
- Regular health check-ups in collaboration with Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) doctors in few areas.