SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

BALOGUN T.M. 01/02/2010

OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME -IMPORTANCE
-OBJECTIVES -COMPONENTS

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

-DEFINITION -COMPONENTS -PERSONNEL

CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION
A school is an institution for educating learners. Health according to WHO is School health services are the preventive and curative services provided for the promotion of the health status of learners and staff. It is a component of school health programme.

INTRODUCTION (continued)
The WHOs expert committee on school health services as far back as 1950 said to learn effectively, children need good health.

SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME

School health programme refers to the school procedures that contribute to the understanding, maintenance and improvement of the health of the pupils and school personnel. It is a component of primary health care. It is one the strategies for the achievement of HFA declaration, MDGS, EFA, NEEDS etc

IMPORTANCE
School age children are between the ages of 5 to 15 years of age, and they form of the worlds population with about half of them in schools. They undergo rapid physical and mental development at this age. They are very moldable at this age. They are tomorrows leaders. They are the survivors of the high childhood mortality and so may bear the sequelae of these diseases.

IMPORTANCE
Research has shown that nutritional deficiences and poor health are some of the major causes of low school enrollment, high absenteesim, early drop out and poor school performance. Brocklington in 1960 said education is fundamental to health and health to education.

OBJECTIVES
Promotion and maintenance of healthy growth and development in all school children. To inculcate the principles of good health into school children. To control the spread of communicable diseases among school children. To promote optimum sanitary condition of the school. Promotion of school and community collaboration.

OBJECTIVES (continued)
To appraise the health status of school children in order to detect any physical or mental defect early that may deter benefiting fully from his education. To offer good guidance in the choice of professions. Provision of social educational therapy for handicapped children. Provision of emergency care for school children. Protection and promotion of the health of the school personnel

OBJECTIVES (continued)
Summarily, the objectives are to ensure that every child is as healthy as possible to obtain the full benefit from their education.

COMPONENTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. School health services (-Basic medical care) Healthful school environment School health education (-Health instruction) School feeding services School, home and community relationships

HEALTHFUL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

It denotes all the consciously organised , planned and executed efforts to ensure safety and healthy living conditions for all members in the school community. It covers the physical, emotional and social aspects.

HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT (continued)

Physical: size, site, playground, building, occupancy, sanitary facilities (water supply, refuse, toilet/ bath) Emotional

Social

SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION

Health education is education for life! It aims to promote the development of sound health knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices. Areas to be covered include: personal health care +oral health, community health, sex education +HIV/AIDS, growth and development, parts of the human body etc.

HIV education in Africa

SCHOOL FEEDING SERVICES

This builds on governments national home grown school feeding and health programme which aims at: -reducing hunger among school children. -increasing school enrolment, attendance and completion rates. -improving nutritional status. -enhancing comprehension and learning.

FEEDING SERVICES (continued)

School feeding services is implemented by: -providing one adequate meal a day to school children. -food fortification and supplementation -regular de-worming -hygiene practices among food handlers +routine medical examination

SCHOOL, HOME & COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

The success of a school health programme depends on the extent to which community members is aware of and willing to support health promotion efforts.

SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

They are the preventive and curative services provided for the promotion of the status of learners and staff. It aims at: -providing basic services for disease prevention and management of diseases in school. -building the capacity of the school community to identify and manage simple illnesses and injuries.

HEALTH SERVICES (continued)

It comprises of: a. physical examination -hygiene inspection -height and weight measurement -general examination -examination of the eyes, throat etc -visual testing &auditory testing -simple lab &radiological investigations -dental exam for carries and calculus -psychological examination

HEALTH SERVICES (continued)

b. provision of first aid services c. laid down policies d. screening tests (pre-entry /routine) e. control of communicable diseases f. immunisation g. school health records

HEALTH SERVICES continued

Personnel involved: -doctors -school nurses -health educators -environmental health officers -school guidance counsellors -community health workers -dieticians and nutritionists -school teachers -social workers

CONCLUSION
Like the saying goes health is wealth. Hence, the right steps should be taken to safeguard the health of this age group because they are tomorrows leaders and also to maximise the returns of the nations investment in education.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Commitment by all parties concerned. Funding by governmental and non governmental agencies. Unannounced sanitary inspection rounds. The medical records should be analysed. Incentives to pupils and schools which meet the standards.

 Short textbook of public health medicine for the tropics, Lucas A.O & Gilles G.M Paediatrics and children health in a tropical region, chapter 62, Akani AO & Nkanginieme KEO National school health policy by the Federal ministry of education, 2006. Policy guidelines on school sanitation by the federal republic of Nigeria, 2005 www.healthiersf.org www.who.int

REFERENCES