Latest update February 18th, 2025 1:40 PM
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Health crucial to overall development of children
Chief Planning Officer, Evelyn Hamilton
Through its recently launched Policy Document on School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS, the Ministry of Education is well geared to disseminate requisite information to all institutions of learning.
According to Chief Planning Officer within the Education Ministry, Ms Evelyn Hamilton, over the last few years the Ministry has recognised the need to deal with the whole child. And this, she said, is required, given the fact that health, socio-economic circumstances and environment of learners all affect the ability to make effective use of the educational opportunities that are provided.
She related that the Ministry in its new strategic plan sought to address all of the outlined issues and has even more particularly sought to integrate health related issues within the education sector.
It has been observed, Hamilton said, that health plays a vital role in the overall development of children and their capacity to learn.
She disclosed that the Ministry has accelerated its response to the evident needs by focusing its attention on a range of issues relating to school health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS.
“Noteworthy examples can be highlighted…In 2005 the Ministry of Education implemented a massive HIV/AIDS programme in the sector, It was aimed at increasing the awareness levels as well as reducing stigma and discrimination.
“Today, as a means of ensuring sustainability in such campaigns, HIV/AIDS along with issues pertaining to drug abuse, sexuality and hygiene are addressed in a comprehensive way via the Health and Family Life Education Programme,” Hamilton disclosed.
According to her strong leadership and support by the Ministers of Education and other officials contributed to the progress that has been made to date.
And since it was recognised that HIV/AIDS was not the only health issue needed to be addressed, Hamilton said that the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) introduced a pilot vision screening programme.
The programme, she said, was and still is aimed at identifying students with visual problems and providing the necessary care and treatment for those identified with problems.
To date in excess of 8,000 students have benefited from the programme, Hamilton said even as she disclosed that in September of last year a ear screening programme was also introduced with the aim of identifying students at both the nursery and primary level with possible hearing impartment.
“In collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Region Two at the beginning of this academic year all students at the entry levels of nursery and primary were screened before entering school.
The impact of programme like these within the sector is a direct result of a situational analysis which sought to enable the development of a comprehensive response to issues of school health…,” the Chief Planning Officer articulated.
In addition to other programmes such as water and sanitation assisted by UNICEF and PAHO within the education sector, are all aimed at improving the environment and health of children who are being schooled.
And these achievements Hamilton said will be continued and are a testimony to the Ministry’s commitment to providing universal education for all.
According to PAHO Representative, Dr Kathleen Israel, the policy’s implementation in the education sector should apply to everyone associated in the formal and informal institutions of education.
“It goes without saying that good health and good nutrition are integral to good education and it is encouraging to see the Ministry of Education taking the lead in ensuring that the appropriate policy frame work is in place to guide everyone engaged in the process of education.”
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