Free School Health Checkup and Health Education Programme & Free 15th Government & Private School First Aid Box Distribution

KHEJRI SARVODAYA GENERAL HEALTH AND EYE CARE CENTRE

Todiramzanipura, Jagatpura, Jaipur-302025, India

School Health and Health Education Programme

Meeting with Principals and Teachers of the following schools on 11^th September 2013 at 2pm:

• Government Secondary School, Bhurtal:- teacher Nanakram
•  Arpit Children Academy Senior Secondary School, Kanadwas:-  principal Murari Lala Sharma
• Bal Bharti Senior Secondary Public School, Dantli:- teacher Puran Singh
• Ideal Senior Secondary Public School, Khonagoria:- principal Abdul Ghaffar
• Ganpati Public School, Khonagoria:- principal Lachhu Ram Mauriya
• Navjyoti Public School, Udaipur Gilaria:- principal  Sadhu Ram Choudhary
• Manju Secondary Public School, Kundanpura:- principal Ramnath Udenia
• Bal Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Khatipura:- principal Giriraj Prasad Sharma
• Digantar School, Bhavgarh:- health coordinator Ranjeet
• Digantar School, Ratwali:- teacher Imran Khan
• Government Primary School, Khatipura:- teacher Seema Gupta
• Humana People to People India School, Jagatpura:- principal Ashok Sharma
• Government Secondary School, Kundanpura:- teacher Vimla Meena
• Government Secondary Schoolo, Khonagoriah:- teacher Prahlad
• Ramdas Public School, IG Nagar, sector 6, near Goner Road: principal Basant Pushpa

• Govt. Primary School, Udaipur Giladia and Rajasthan Girls Senior Secondary, School, Jagatpura were invited, but could not attend.

Introduction:After welcoming the principals and teachers details of the  free Khejri Health Centre’s programmes with and for the schools were given regarding the School Health check-ups by doctors and supporting staff. Since January to September 820 children were examined in 5 schools – where necessary treatment was provided and 17 children were identified for follow up – mainly because of severe underweight. In the School Health Education programme during this period 384 children were given 10 lessons in health education in 7 schools. Also we conducted some special sessions for adolescent girls and general health for several classes together. We conducted Hemoglobin tests in 4 institutions for 298 adolescent girls. For anemic girls we provided follow up and treatment.

The Khejri Health Centre has given prime importance to school health; first from 1999 to 2006; again we started a full programme in 2010. (Due to demolition of our main building by the govt. for road widening purposes in 2006/7 we had to restrict our various programmes). In our discussions with the school representatives we stressed the importance of health in relation to education (no child can learn optimally without proper health) and the great need for preventive health. It is our experience that many unnecessary accidents occur and many times children get unnecessarily ill due to neglect of minor symptoms. Proper vaccination has also not taken place. Children should be referred for free treatment to the Khejri Health Centre when some illness  is suspected. Referral slips are provided to the schools.

Coordination: for effective implementation of this important programme the need for proper coordination with the individual schools was stressed. It is very helpful, both for the school and the HC, if one teacher is made the Health Coordinator. Schools promised to do so.

Follow up: Children identified with extreme low body weight, eye and teeth problems, low hemoglobin , pain abdomen and more serious deficiencies often do not come to the HC for follow up. Schools are requested to take care that the child is given proper treatment. Parents are often either not able to come to the HC with the child or do not take this seriously. Poor nutrition is a major problem.

Major suggestions from the schools: for involvement of the parents the school principals requested the HC to address parents meetings at the schools in order to explain the importance of paying more attention to the children’s nutrition and health.  The day of amavashya (dark moon) was suggested, when labour is free and fathers can also attend. The first meeting shall be in Govt. School, Burthal on next dark moon (October).

Future programmes: a time table is to be prepared for the period September – March for School Health  Checkup Programme and School Health Education Programme. A separate programme for First aid classes for school children in the following 6 schools also has to be planned:

Bal Bharati School Dantli (17^th Sept.), Manju Public School, Bal Vidya Mandir, Khatipura, Govt. School, Khonagoria, Govt. School, Bhurtal and  Ideal Public School, Bhurtal.

First Aid Boxes: at the end of the meeting all schools were provided with a First Aid Box, which can be replenished as and when (courtesy: Children of Tomorrow, The Netherlands).

We are grateful to: Doctors Rajvanshi, Prem Shekhawat, Sunita Sharma, nurses Asha, Mamta, Prasanna, lab. Technician Babu Raj and above all Bhanwar Lal Kumawat, School Health Coordinator, as well as all the cooperating schools.

For financial support to Children of Tomorrow, Mr. and Mrs. L. Koster, and Jasper Fund of The Netherlands.

Gerda J. Unnithan                                                              Bhanwar Lal Kumawat

Hon. Director (Adm&Fin)                                                               School Health Coordinator

15.09.2013