Pretoria - The North West Department of Health, together with the Basic Education Department, will on Tuesday officially launch the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) targeting Grade 0 - 12 learners.
The ISHP, which was launched by President Jacob Zuma in October 2012, aims to individually assess every learner once during each of the four educational phases.
Assessment during the foundation phase focuses primarily on identifying health barriers to learning, as well as identifying children who have or are at risk for long-term health problems. Also in the foundation phase, services will cover environmental and personal hygiene, especially the importance of hand-washing, healthy eating, the promotion of physical exercise and safety.
The ISHP, which will be launched at Ikageng Stadium in Potchefstroom, will be implemented at sub-district level. The programme will see professional nurses visiting various schools across the province to monitor and improve the general health of school-going children.
As part of the programme, health professionals will also screen the ears, eyes, immunisation status and nutritional status of children.
“In the intermediate phase, attention will be paid to mental health issues, including depression and suicide, as well as issues related to substance abuse. Information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV/Aids will also be introduced,” the department said.
As a build-up towards the launch, on Sunday, Health MEC Dr Magome Masike engaged with the leaders of the religious fraternity at Govern Mbeki Hall in Potchefstroom. The meeting sought to get religious leaders involved in ensuring healthy living conditions for school-going children, and instilling good moral values in schools amid a frightening scourge of child pornography, which has seen a number of people, including teachers, arrested.
Today, the campaign will spread to various locations and cities, including Ventersdorp, Klerksdorp, Khuma and Potchefstroom, where Masike will engage with members of the community. – SAnews.gov.za
