School Health Programme
Promoting the health and wellbeing of schoolchildren, school staff and families through preventive, promotive and curative health care services.
Programme Overview
A school-based health programme supporting learners, staff and families through health promotion, screening, immunisation, prevention and referral services.
What Is The Programme?
The School Health Programme promotes the health and wellbeing of schoolchildren, school staff and families. It provides preventive, promotive and, when necessary, curative health care services.
Why Implement It?
- Supports healthy growth, learning and cognitive development.
- Promotes health and wellbeing throughout the school years.
- Reduces absenteeism and improves educational outcomes.
- Contributes to national health and education goals.
Aims
- Provide comprehensive health promotion and prevention services to schoolchildren.
- Protect and improve health and wellbeing.
- Contribute to SDG and National Health Strategic Plan targets.
Specific Objectives
- Foster healthy and supportive school environments.
- Reduce vaccine-preventable diseases among schoolchildren.
- Promote healthy lifestyles among students, parents, teachers and communities.
- Reduce risk factors associated with communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Reduce early sexual debut, unsafe sexual practices and teenage pregnancies.
Key Interventions
The programme combines health promotion, school-based screening, immunisation, and referral for curative or rehabilitative care.
- Information and education on healthy lifestyles and prevention of diseases.
- Information and education on sexual and reproductive health.
- One-to-one counselling for students upon request.
- Health theme day awareness activities.
Pre-Crèche / ECCE Health Profile
- Physical, hearing, vision and dental assessment.
- Physical, motor and language development assessment.
Primary 4 and Secondary 1 & 4
- Weight, height and blood pressure measurement.
- Lifestyle questionnaire.
Secondary 5
- Medical examination by doctors.
- HIV, Hepatitis testing and full blood count when indicated.
- Primary 1: MMR, DT and Polio vaccines.
- Primary 6: HPV vaccine.
- Secondary 3: Td and Polio vaccines.
- Other vaccines according to the National EPI Schedule.
Referral to:
- Speech Pathologists, Psychologists and Audiologists.
- Specialist Clinics and Physiotherapy Services.
- Early Childhood Intervention Centre.
- Eye Clinic, including Optometrist.
- Social Worker.
Eligibility
- All schoolchildren in public and private schools up to Secondary 5.
- Certain activities may also target parents and school staff.
Service Providers
- Nurses
- Medical Officers
- Dental Therapists
- Public Health Officers
Where Delivered
All public and private schools in Seychelles.
Focus
Healthy students, supportive schools and stronger learning outcomes.