SCHOOL HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAM

FRANCES JOANNA DE LEON - ABUAN

In 1985-86 some of 431,668 public elementary school children were examined and treated for various ailments by 55 medical officers in different school divisions. Public Health nurses participated in the control of communicable diseases through health inspection of 4,159,712 pupils or 83.00 percent of its target clientele. Dental services were extended to 3,250,747 pupils or 81 percent of the target clientele.

Health talks and lectures were delivered. Medical technologist made examinations on prevention and control of intestinal parasitism in 90 percent of the schools. Those examined were also dewormed.

Under the school nutrition project, a supplementary snacks were distributed to 4,200,000 beneficiaries at a frequency of 2 to 3 times a week.

According to the former Undersecretary of Education Juan Miguel Luz that the Local School Board are key to making local decisions to meet local needs. LSBs were created by the Local Government Code to help fund public schools needs through the Special Education Fund. But LSBs can do much more than just funding.

The Local School Board has always a budget to fund school health and nutrition ,including bio-intensive gardens for school feeding program. According to him also that it appeared that in Grade 1-3, it was the “right-age” kids who were dropping out most. This was attributed to the poor health and nutrition of these young children . Throughout the country, National Nutrition Council data revealed that 30% of all children aged 6-12 years old were found to be underweight/and or underheight. This level of stunting was a reflection of undernutrition, if not malnutrition.

Parent education and participation is critical. If parents do not understand and appreciate that the right for schooling has a particular logic, they unwittingly increase the likehood of dropouts at the high school level-and the very real prospect of consigning their kids to a life of uncertainty and poor well-being.

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The author is SST-I at Gutad National High School, Floridablanca, Pampanga Physical Education, Health and Music (PEHM)