The District level coordination cum Consultative meeting for School Health & Wellness Programme under AYUSHMAN BHARAT held its first meeting in DC's Conference Hall Kohima on 10th March, 2021. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the Committee Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, NCS.
Giving an introduction of the programme, Chief Medical Officer, Kohima, Dr. Vezokholu Theyo said that Ayushman Bharat: School Health and Wellness Programme is a joint collaborative with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development. The programme is the third pillar of Ayushman Bharat for promotion and prevention of diseases among School children. The school health promotion activities will be implemented in all government and government aided schools in the country.
In the first phase, School Health Programme will be implemented in 191 districts across 33 States/UTs where three districts, Kohima, Peren and Kiphire from Nagaland State have been included. Under the programme, adolescents matter as globally, adolescents carry 11% of global disease burden, however, they received only 1.6% of development assistance for health in 2015. Dr. Theyo also highlighted on the present situation of adolescent health in India.
Highlighting on the School Health & Wellness Ambassador initiative under this programme, Dr. Theyo said that two teachers in every school will be designated as Health & Wellness Ambassador who will be trained to transact health promotion and disease prevention information in the form of interesting activities for one hour every week. 24 hour sessions will be delivered through weekly structured interactive classroom-based activities. The health promotion messages will also have bearing on improving health practices in the country and students will act as Health & Wellness Messengers in the society.
Deputy CMO Kohima, Dr. Rupert Peseyie also highlighted that the objective of School Health Programme is to provide age appropriate information about health and nutrition to the children in schools; to promote healthy behaviours among the children that they will inculcate for life; to detect and treat diseases early in children and adolescents including identification of malnourished and anemic children with appropriate referrals to PHCs and hospitals; to promote use of safe drinking water and safe menstrual hygiene practices by girls; to promote yoga and meditation through Health & Wellness Ambassadors and to encourage research on health, wellness and nutrition for children.
(DPRO, Kohima)
