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.

Message from the Director – Maternal and Child Health​

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.

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The situation has been worsened due to increased screen time, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and stress and other mental health issues making them more vulnerable for short term and long-term health consequences. There is an urgent need to address these issues and educate parents on good and healthy ways of parenting, the missing link to support our children in this crisis situation. We have developed a new website "Healthy School Life" to provide health staff, school children, school staff and parents with the necessary information to make our school children happy and healthy. This website will also serve as a learning hub for those who are interested in improving health and well-being of our school 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. 

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The Family Health Bureau is the focal point in the Ministry of Health for school health programme at national level working collaboratively with the Ministry of Education and other partners to improve the health of our children. Our field health staff are doing a commendable work in providing necessary health services to school children and health promotion activities at school and community settings. Aligning with the advancement of digital technologies and as a response to the current challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are happy to introduce the newly developed “Website on School Health” to provide timely and accurate health information to our health staff, school children, parents and to the whole school community. Further, this web site will provide a platform to continue with the teaching - learning exercises in the present challenging situation due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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….