Union Government launches School Health Programme

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI) : Union Government has launched the School Health Programme (SHP) to address health, education, environment and nutrition related issues in a comprehensive frame work under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the programme would utilize strategies of prevention, promotion as well as detection and treatment for health problems and provide a referral linkage with the general health services.

Azad said the State Governments should formulate their own State School Health Policy, in a manner that all stakeholders in particular, the health department, education department and local communities have an ownership.

The state Governments can adopt Rapid Assessment and Action Planning (RAAP) process formed by World Health Organisation (WHO) to restructure the SHP, Azad said.

Azad said the SHP would be continuously monitored and internal evaluation maybe conducted annually by Medical Colleges and education departments of Universities in collaboration with the National Health Systems Resources Centre (NHSRC). (ANI)