Orientation on school health and wellness underway in Kohima

Dimapur, March 18 (EMN): A five-day orientation programme for principals, headmasters and head teachers on school health and wellness programme under Ayushman Bharat for the district of Kohima got underway on March 16 at Siemat hall, SCERT, Kohima.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, the principal director of School Education, Shanavas C, expressed his contentment on the long awaited convergence programme, which could not be materialised last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He also highlighted the dire need of students pertaining their health and wellness particularly the normal physical health relating to communicable and non-communicable diseases and most importantly their mental health, an update from National Health Mission (NHM) under the Health department stated.

Shanavas also emphasised on the importance of counselling in schools as the children come from different economic, social status and thus undergo different psychological experiences. Besides, he stressed on the need to address the substance abuse issues among the student group, their nutritional needs as well as sexual health as this age group are the most vulnerable age group.

Shanavas mentioned that such kind of convergence programmes should not concentrate only at the state or district level but also trickle down till the block/ village level. He appealed to the participants to live an exemplary life as students emulate their teachers in many ways.

 Dr. Khriesilie Sachü, nodal officer of school health programme (SHP) under the department of Health and Family Welfare, stated that the orientation programme was envisaged to facilitate an integral approach to health programming and more effective learning at the school level. He also mentioned that school plays a crucial role in helping students establish healthy behaviour for their lifetime.

Sachü added that two teachers from each school would be trained as ‘health and wellness ambassadors” in order to impart health and wellness education to the students. He stated that the students, in turn, would act as health and wellness messengers in the society and work on improving health practices in their community. 

The inaugural programme was followed with an orientation for school principals and headmasters. It informed that training for head teachers began on March 17 and concluded on March 20.

It stated that Ayushman Bharat- school health and wellness programme would be launched in phase-wise manner. The first phase would be launched in Kohima, Kiphire and Peren districts to be followed with the remaining districts.

The aim of the programme was to create a unique opportunity to improve both the education and health status of learners throughout the nation. The school health programme under Ayushman Bharat is a joint collaborative programme between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource and Development. The objective of the programme was to provide age appropriate information about health and nutrition to the school children, promote healthy behaviour, health screening, promote use of safe drinking water in school, promote safe menstrual hygiene, promote yoga and meditation through the health and wellness ambassadors and encourage research on health, wellness and nutrition for children.