The School Health Unit of the Family Health Bureau is the focal point for School Health programme in the Ministry of Health. We work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other partners to ensure the health and wellbeing of school children in our country.
Dr Chithramalee de Silva
Director/ Maternal and Child Health
Family Health Bureau
Ministry of Health
Children are the most valuable assets for the development of a country.
Supporting the optimal health and wellbeing during childhood and adolescence is the best investment we can ake to ensure their future success, providing the maximum return on investment. Current COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on education and health of the children living globally as well as in our country. Frequent school closures, public health and social measures and loss of social interactions with peers & friends has created a stressful environment for children.
Message from National Programme Manager – School Health Programme
Dr Ayesha Lokubalasooriya
Consultant Community Physician
School Health Unit
Family Health Bureau
Ministry of Health
Children are the future pillars of our nation.
There are about four million school children in Sri Lanka, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the country’s population. School age represents a critical stage of our lives with physical and psychological development. It is also the time where most of the behaviours get inculcated in our lives that continues till adulthood. Families, schools, and the community all play a vital role in ensuring growth and development of school children.
OUR GOAL
To ensure that children are healthy, capable of promoting their own health and health of the family & community and are able to optimally benefit from educational opportunities provided
The School Health Program is implemented through its National, Provincial, District and Divisional health teams.
Key School Health Services provided by Medical Officer of Health (MOH) team
01. School Medical Inspection
Public Health Inspector screen school children for nutritional and vision problems on the School Medical Inspection preparation day.
Medical Officers examine school children from Head to toe. They do health education; treat for minor ailments refer students to the hospital for further investigation and management as necessary.
02. School Vaccination
Student vaccination for aTD in Grade 7 and HPV in Grade 6
03. School dental services
Our school dental therapists carry out oral health promotion activities and screening for dental carries among school children.
04. School Health Survey to ensure the healthy and safe school environment
A safe school environment, clean drinking water, and proper sanitary facilities are essential for learning. Every year, PHI conducts School Health Survey and help the school principal and community to improve the health and safety of school environment.
05. School health promotion activities
We conduct health education session to the school children. We also empower the school community to conduct health promotion activities on their own. The School Health Club is one such entity that helps students to engage in health promotion.
06. Weekly Iron Folate Supplementation (WIFS)
Children are particularly vulnerable to iron deficiency anaemia because of their increased iron requirements in the periods of rapid growth. Therefore, iron supplementation is given to school children to ensure the optimal growth and learning.
07. Services for the teachers
Health awareness programmes for teachers to improve their health and wellbeing along with screening for non-communicable diseases to make teachers healthier….