School health is an important branch of Community Health Nursing. According to modern concepts, health services are an economical and powerful means of raising community health and, more importantly, future generations. School health service is a personal health service that has developed over the past 70 years from the narrower concept of medical examination of children to the present-day broader concept of comprehensive care for the health and well-being of children throughout their school years.
HEALTH PROBLEMS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Any discussion of a school's health services must be based on the local health problems of the school child, the culture of the community, and the available resources in terms of money, material, and manpower. While the health problems of school children vary from one place to another, surveys carried out in India indicate that the main emphasis will fall in the following categories:
Malnutrition
Infectious diseases
Intestinal parasites
Diseases of the skin, eye, ear
Dental caries
Objectives of School Health Services
Promotion of positive health
Prevention of diseases
Early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of defects
Awakening health consciousness in children
Provision of a healthful environment
School Health Services
School health services are comprehensive, integrated preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services provided to school children, teachers, and support staff. These services offer remedial measures and referral services when needed.
School Health is a synthesis of nursing practices and public health services that maintain the health status of school-going children, address their health issues, and provide necessary health services.
Aspects of School Health
Health appraisal of school children & personnel
Remedial measures & follow-up
Prevention of communicable diseases
Healthful environment
Nutritional services
First Aid & emergency care
Mental health
Dental health
Eye health
Health education
Education of handicapped children
Proper use & maintenance of school health records
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 assess the overall health status of pupils
To detect pupils who need special care
To use data for planning school health programs
To improve health behaviors of pupils, parents, and teachers
To provide baseline data for further follow-ups
Medical Examinations
Periodic Medical Checkup: At the time of entry and every four years. Includes history-taking, physical examination, and vision, hearing, and speech tests.
Routine Blood & Urine Tests: To check for nutritional deficiencies and intestinal parasites.
Annual Vision Testing: Teachers assist in recording medical history, height, and weight.
Daily Morning Inspection: Teachers play a crucial role in spotting signs of illness such as rash, fever, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, or other symptoms requiring medical attention.
Remedial Measures & Follow-Up
Medical examination should be followed by appropriate treatment and follow-ups.
Special clinics should be conducted at Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in rural areas.
In urban areas, school health services should include specialist consultations.
Healthful School Environment
Location: Centrally situated, away from busy places.
Site: Properly drained land with adequate space.
Classrooms: Should not accommodate more than 40 students; each student should have 10 sq. ft. space.
Water Supply: Continuous, safe drinking water from taps.
Sanitation: One urinal for every 60 students and one latrine for every 100 students.
Nutrition: Schools should provide balanced meals to prevent malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
Health Team in School
Children
School Principal
Teachers
Parents/PTA
Community Leaders
Medical Officer
School Health Nurse
Components of School Health
Health promotion & protective services
Therapeutic services
Rehabilitative services
School health records
Role of the School Health Nurse
Health Promotion & Special Protection:
Immunization
Nutrition
Health education
Positive attitudes towards school health
Healthful environment
Community participation
Early Diagnosis & Treatment:
Health appraisal
Parent notification
Referral services
Follow-up care
Home visits
Counseling services
First Aid & emergency services
Prevention of Complications & Rehabilitation:
Prevention of acute conditions
Promotion of adjustment in chronic conditions
Prevention of learning disabilities
Other Functions:
School records maintenance
Preparation of health appraisal reports
Supervision of auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs)
School health clinics
Parent-teacher meetings
In-service education for teachers
HAPPY LIFE’s Role in School Health
HAPPY LIFE is a professionally managed service organization that runs scientifically planned health programs for school children. Established in 2014 by Late Mr. Halaswamy, HAPPY LIFE is one of Bangalore’s fastest-growing preventive health check-up program networks.
HAPPY LIFE’s Key Services in School Health:
Regular Health Check-ups: Conducting preventive medical camps in schools.
Health Awareness Sessions: Educating students on nutrition, hygiene, and mental health.
Digital Health Records: Maintaining students' medical histories for easy access and monitoring.
Referral Services: Connecting students to a network of hospitals for further care.
Panel of Medical Experts: Involving doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, and specialists.
Nutritional Assessment: Measuring students' height, weight, and chest circumference to monitor growth.
Partnerships with Schools: Collaborating with over 200 educational institutions and serving 310,000 students since inception.
HAPPY LIFE’s mission aligns with the objectives of school health services by promoting positive health, preventing diseases, and ensuring follow-up care for school children. Through its structured approach and professional expertise, HAPPY LIFE plays a crucial role in improving the overall health and well-being of students across Bangalore.
For more details, visit www.nammahappylife.in.
