Towards a better nation
STARTING last week, schools nationwide have been launching a big health program of Deped called OK sa Deped. OK sa Deped, which means Oplan Kalusugan sa Deped, is a convergence of Deped’s health programs, plans, policies and activities geared towards their effective and efficient implementation at the school level.
Among the focus of the said program are: School based Feeding Program (SBFP), National Drug Education Program (NDEP), Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in School (WinS) and Medical, Dental and Nursing Services and other health and nutrition programs.
OK sa Deped aims to promote and provide all learners and Deped school-based personnel with a sustainable and holistic health and nutrition program towards healthier behaviors and better learning outcomes.
The first flagship health program of OK sa Deped promotes nutrition, improves academic performance, and encourages daily classroom attendance among Kinder to Grade six learners by providing hot meals in schools.
The second flagship health program provides for a holistic approach to the problem of drug abuse by collaborating with all sectors under a unified, scientific, research-based, and responsive procedure.
The third enhances the capacities of guidance counselors and teachers to handle Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health concerns in schools.
The fourth focuses on the standards for the promotion of a clean, safe, and correct hygiene and sanitation practices among learners and school-based personnel.
The fifth is geared towards preventive healthcare and the promotion, protection, and maintenance of learners’ and school personnel’s physical wellbeing.
In another development, Deped maintained its stand that the random drug testing shall be limited to secondary level students during a sit-down meeting with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier today.
Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that the Deped’s role is preventive, reiterating that the Department’s mandate is to enhance the curriculum on drug education for learners nine years old and above.