Around ten schools in Guadalcanal have received health trainings over the past two weeks, the Health Ministry says.
The trainings covered healthy setting guidelines, including the healthy school guideline. The guideline is to enable schools to map out areas that require attention and actions to ensure a healthy, safe and supportive learning environment for school children.
This initiative is part of a larger effort by the Health Ministry to promote healthy living and lifestyle, placing focus and attention on the prevention front.
Chief Health Promotion Officer and the National Healthy Settings Coordinator, Mr. Ben Rickie Kiokimo, explained that this approach is being implemented by the Ministry of Health through its National Health Promotion Department and provincial health services and its partners and stakeholders.
Guadalcanal's Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Kelton Sikala, who is currently supporting the Healthy Settings program as lead facilitator, said participants were expected to conduct a basic assessment of gaps within their settings, and to develop action plans to address the issues identified.
“For instance in Betivatu school, participants identified issues related to health and safety which includes the need for strengthening behavior change communication to make personal hygiene activities such as hand washing after using the toilet and before eating a norm. They have also identified the need to replace one of its buildings that have deteriorated and pose safety risks to students and staff”, explained Mr. Sikala.
He added many other health and safety issues are being identified with the schools having to make commitments to address them, some will require support from education authorities while most falls within the jurisdiction of the schools themselves.
“This is the purpose of the training to enable the teachers and school administrators to see for themselves issues impacting students' health and learning within the school premises”, said Mr. Sikala.
He also highlighted that the importance of the training is to improve health and wellbeing in the country.
“Therefore we must invest in the holistic health settings at the school level, where children spend more time of the day and a captive learning environment.
“Health education must be captured in the school education curriculum, and also reflected in school administration and ethos, with strong community partnership and health services to the school settings”, highlighted Mr. Sikala.
Source: MHMS Media