School Health Programme short of target
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 03 2011:
Implementation of School Health Programme, which is being taken up under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) with the main objective of keeping a close watch on the health of school going children, especially in rural area, has not been able to make any significant impact in Manipur due to various factors like lack of financial resources, manpower, communication, etc.
According to a reliable source, for implementation of the programme, imparting necessary training to the school teachers, health staffs and other required personnel started since 1992-93.However, the benefit of the programme has not been able to extend to school going children in rural areas due to lack of financial resources, manpower and communication facilities and means among other factors.
For the first time in Manipur, implementation of School Health Programme had been launched in Ukhrul and Imphal East district as pilot projects of the respective District Health Mission Societies under the State Health Mission Society.
In Ukhrul district, the programme was launched officially on March 15, 2007, and it was supposed to be extended to the remaining districts.
But beyond the launch of the programme in Imphal East district, there has been no further coverage.
Under School Health Service Programme, medical check-up of all school going children up to secondary level is to be conducted at least for a week in an academic session by the doctors and staff of the existing Primary Health Centre (PHC) or Community Health Centre (CHC) or other health institutions.
However, in rural area, most of the health centres do not have the basic infrastructures, not to mention of specialist doctors and trained medical staff, and there is also no adequate teachers in most schools, thus posing hindrance to the successful implementation of the programme.