School Health Program

School Health Program

Assist. Prof. lujain Alkhazrajy

Introduction to School Health

Schools are a strategic means of providing children with educational qualifications that will enable them to find employment and status in life. Schools can be dynamic settings for promoting health, for enabling children to grow and mature into healthy adults, yet the potential of the school to enhance health is often underutilized.' School Health’ has largely remained confined to medical check-ups of children and/or some hours of health instruction in the curriculum. * www.schoolofeducators.com


Reasons for giving school age special consideration: They constitute a big sector of the population (about 1/6). This sector is easily reached through schools, as by law, children are compelled to attend schools and spend about half of their day for a period of 9 years. School pupils are considered a vulnerable group. They are growing exposed physiologic, mental and emotional stress at home or school. Some children attend school with different health problems, could be early discovered and treated

School pupils are very active &curious so liable to accidents. Health status of pupils is a strong determinant of their school achievement. Pupils are affected by school environment. School years are the best opportunity for health education. We can reach parents through their children.

Coordinated School Health Programs

grade level MotivAddresses all dimensions of health Develops knowledge, attitudes, and skills Tailored to each ates students
Preventative Services Education Emergency Care Referral Management of acute and chronic conditions
Promotes lifelong physical activity Develops basic movement skills Develops physical fitness Enhances social and emotional ability
Integration of: Nutrition Education Nutritious and appealing meals Environment that promotes healthy dietary behaviors Food Safety
Provides a safe physical plant, as well as a healthy and supportive environment that fosters learning. Physical Climate Emotional Climate Social Climate
Individuals Groups Families
Cognitive Emotional Behavioral Social Needs
Staff Activities: Assessment Education Fitness
Develop partnerships among schools, families and community groups. Individuals will share and maximize resources and expertise in addressing the development of healthy children, youth, and their families.

Components of the policy

The eight components of the comprehensive school Health Policy are: 1.A School environment that is safe. 2.A sequential Health Education curriculum taught daily in every grade. 3.A sequential Physical Education curriculum taught daily in every grade.
* www.schoolofeducators.com


4.A nutrition services program that includes a food service program and employs well- prepared staff who efficiently serve appealing choices of nutritious foods. 5.A school Health Services Program that is designed to ensure access or referral to primary health care services, prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems.
* www.schoolofeducators.com


6.A counseling ,Psychological, and Social Services Program that is designed to ensure access or referral to assessments, interventions, and other services for student’s mental,emotional,and social health and whose services are provided for by well-qualified and well-supported professionals.7.Integrated Family and Community Involvement activities that are designed to engage families as active participants in their children’s education * www.schoolofeducators.com


8.A Staff Health Promotion Policy that provides opportunities for school staff to improve their health status through activities such as health assessments, health, education and health-related fitness activities.
* www.schoolofeducators.com

School health environment

School health education
School health services
Component Of School Health Program


School health services
Appraisal aspects
Preventive Aspects
Curative aspects

I- Appraisal aspects

These are organized activities, carried out to assess the physical, mental, emotional and social status of school pupils.

Purposes of school health appraisal

To have a clear idea about the overall health status of pupils. To detect pupils who need special care because of their health status Data obtained from the appraisal is useful for planning of school health program

To change the unhealthful behaviors of the pupils, parents and teachers into healthful ones To provide a baseline data for further follow up of pupils’ health status

1- Components of Appraisal

History Observation Screening tests Examination Laboratory investigations

1-History: The pupils` past and current health events Immunization Previous illnesses, injuries and operations chronic health conditions (tonsillitis, rheumatic heart disease, and bronchial asthma) Family History: Communicable diseases ( TB) Hereditary diseases (Epilepsy, Diabetes Mellitus, and Bronchial asthma) Social habits and behaviors Smoking & physical Activities

2-Screening Tests

These are tools (tests) applied to healthy pupils to detect pupils with particular health problem that requires further evaluation by a specialist. These tests are performed by heath visitors social workers and teachers

Components of the Screening tests

Measuring weight and height to assess pupils’ growthMeasuring visual acuityMeasuring hearing acuityDetecting pupils with speech defectsIQ assessment

3-Laboratory investigations

Stool analysis for parasitic infestations as ascaris, oxyurs, and schistosomiasis. Urine analysis for detection of diabetes and parasites in the rural areas as schistosomiasis. Blood analysis for hemoglobin level.

4-Comprehensive medical examination

School physicians and dentists carry out complete physical and dental examination. It is preferable that health visitors, teachers and parents attend this examination

I-Prevention and control of communicable diseases II- Early detection and correction of non-communicable diseases iii-Early identification and education of children with special disabilities iV-Emergency care and first aid services
Preventive Aspects

I-Prevention and control of communicable diseases

Common communicable diseases among school pupils Food- borne diseases Diarrhea Enteric fever Infectious hepatitis A Food poisoning Diseases spread by droplet infection Common cold Mumps Chicken pox Parasitic diseases Ascaris and oxyuris Diseases spread by contact Skin diseases (Scabies, ring worm, impetigo) Eye diseases (Ophthalmia, Trachoma)

Measures for prevention of communicable diseases at schools

1-Immunizations
Grade
Vaccines
Kindergarten First primary Fourth primary First Preparatory First secondary
Meningococcal Meningitis Meningococcal Meningitis, dT Diphtheria-Tetanus toxoid (dT) Meningococcal Meningitis Meningococcal Meningitis



2- Health education Changing unhealthful health behaviors related to transmission of communicable diseases
3-Environmental sanitation Application of standards to ensure adequate environmental sanitation to avoid communicable diseases transmission.


During Epidemics Do We Close the School Or Keep It Opened ?? School closing is not of great value. This is because by the time of school closing, the disease is already well spread not only within the school but also within the community pupils will continue to associate with their friends whether school is closed or open. in schools, children are under supervision that enables early detection and treatment of communicable diseases.


II- Early detection and correction of non-communicable diseases The non-communicable diseases among school-age children are: Nutritional problems: obesity, underweight, stunted growth,, vitamins, calcium and iron deficiency. Dental defects: dental caries, diseases of gums Errors of refraction: myopia, hypermetropia

Hearing impairment: due to frequent, inadequately treated middle ear infections ( OM) Chronic health problems Adenoids , rheumatic heart diseases, diabetes, epilepsy, cancers and bronchial asthma Speech defects Emotional and behavioral problems

III-Early identification and education of children with special disabilities:

V-Emergency care and first aid services Definition: It is care for urgently diseased or injured pupils and staff members . It is the responsibility of school. Its purposes are Prevent further damage and complications Arrange transportation, to home or hospital, Notify the family.

Every school should have an emergency care plan, supplies, facilities and available trained medical (physician, nurse) or first aid personnel (teacher, social worker, and pupils).

Medical emergencies

Appendicitis, Gastroenteritis, Renal colic, Epileptic fits and Fainting Severe injuries or accident.


C- Curative aspects School Health Program provides curative services to school pupils. This service is provided in School clinics provided by general practitioners (GP) A number of affiliated hospitals or services

School health Education

It is the part of health education that is given in the school and by school health personnel. Methods of school Health Education: Formal health education. Correlated or integrated health education Health. Incidental health education

Formal health education: 

Planned health information in specific periods in the timetable with formal curricula e.g. nutrition, and pollution..

Correlated or integrated health education Health

When a health topic is integrated to curricula such as history, Mathematics, geography, science, economics, and religion as well as extracurricular activities (art, music, physical education)


I- Psychosocial and emotional EnvironmentThis includes School schedules, Duration and timing of school day, Amount and timing of homework……..etc.Healthful emotional environment: through teacher-pupil relationship or pupils –pupils relationship 2- Physical EnvironmentSafe and sanitary school facilities:Classroom ventilation, lighting, furniture…….. Play facilities …….Garbage disposal