22 January 2011
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Health has unveiled new plans for protecting the health of school students in the Sultanate.
The new plans will focus on recruitment of a school health nurse in each government school by 2015. Disclosing this, Dr Sahar Abdou Helmi, superintendent of school health department, Ministry of Health, Oman, said, "These nurses will provide comprehensive services accessible to school aged children and young people. These services in turn will help in protecting the health of students."
Regarding the health education programmes, Dr Sahar averred, "The school health department is working with the Unicef in development of a new website which aims to educate the adolescents and youth through an interactive way of communication. This is in addition to continuation of the Health Promoting Schools initiative."
Computerisation
Dr Sahar said, "The Ministry of Health is working with Ministry of Education in computerising the student health records through the educational gate. It will be more comprehensive, accessible and easy to generate any data or reports needed about the students' health and common health problems."
The vision of the school health programme in Oman is to promote the health of school community. This is being achieved through preventive, curative and promotive programmes.
The school health programme aims to target the beliefs, attitudes, values and risky behaviours of children and young people using evidence based health promotion and education strategies.
Talking about the most important initiative implemented in the public schools, Dr Sahar said, "The World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Promoting School Initiative helps the schools to provide health education activities, supportive school environment, school health services to promote the healthy food, physical activity and mental health. It also links the school with the local community and promotes the health of school staff."
A comprehensive school health education is being carried out in all public schools in the country. "The Facts for life" book is one of the most important tools in health education.
Screening
Adds Dr Sahar, "It is being distributed to students in Grade 9 (part 1) and Grade 10 (part two). It has 30 topics on the most common health problems in Oman and what every family and community should know.
Dr Sahar further says, "A comprehensive physical screening programme to students in grade one, seven and 10 is being carried out in schools since last decade aiming at early detection of health problems among schoolchildren and refers them to the primary health care for more management."
When asked does the MOH guidelines on maintaining the health record of students in all schools, Dr Sahar said, "The student health record is one of the most important records of school health. It is being used with the start of the programme initiated in 1992.
"The aim of the record is to maintain information on the medical and nutritional status of each student. The student health record is considered a continuation of the child health card (preschool) and provides information on immunisation, current health status of the students."
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Health has unveiled new plans for protecting the health of school students in the Sultanate.
The new plans will focus on recruitment of a school health nurse in each government school by 2015. Disclosing this, Dr Sahar Abdou Helmi, superintendent of school health department, Ministry of Health, Oman, said, "These nurses will provide comprehensive services accessible to school aged children and young people. These services in turn will help in protecting the health of students."
Regarding the health education programmes, Dr Sahar averred, "The school health department is working with the Unicef in development of a new website which aims to educate the adolescents and youth through an interactive way of communication. This is in addition to continuation of the Health Promoting Schools initiative."
Computerisation
Dr Sahar said, "The Ministry of Health is working with Ministry of Education in computerising the student health records through the educational gate. It will be more comprehensive, accessible and easy to generate any data or reports needed about the students' health and common health problems."
The vision of the school health programme in Oman is to promote the health of school community. This is being achieved through preventive, curative and promotive programmes.
The school health programme aims to target the beliefs, attitudes, values and risky behaviours of children and young people using evidence based health promotion and education strategies.
Talking about the most important initiative implemented in the public schools, Dr Sahar said, "The World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Promoting School Initiative helps the schools to provide health education activities, supportive school environment, school health services to promote the healthy food, physical activity and mental health. It also links the school with the local community and promotes the health of school staff."
A comprehensive school health education is being carried out in all public schools in the country. "The Facts for life" book is one of the most important tools in health education.
Screening
Adds Dr Sahar, "It is being distributed to students in Grade 9 (part 1) and Grade 10 (part two). It has 30 topics on the most common health problems in Oman and what every family and community should know.
Dr Sahar further says, "A comprehensive physical screening programme to students in grade one, seven and 10 is being carried out in schools since last decade aiming at early detection of health problems among schoolchildren and refers them to the primary health care for more management."
When asked does the MOH guidelines on maintaining the health record of students in all schools, Dr Sahar said, "The student health record is one of the most important records of school health. It is being used with the start of the programme initiated in 1992.
"The aim of the record is to maintain information on the medical and nutritional status of each student. The student health record is considered a continuation of the child health card (preschool) and provides information on immunisation, current health status of the students."
© Times of Oman 2011
