The government is planning to implement the program throughout the country to improve health and nutrition standards of school children. The program will be implemented from next year.[break]
According to Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, Chief of Child Health Division, the effectiveness of the pilot program currently going on in Sindhupalchowk and Syanjha made the government expand the scheme to other districts. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided financial assistance to launch the pilot program, which started in June 2008 and is supposed to conclude in December this year.
Dr Upreti said the program will be extended after they receive the final progress report of the pilot program. “Students will get iron supplements and anti-worm medicines,” Dr Upreti said.
“Infomation about health, nutrition, safe drinking water will also given to the students,” he said. He said that the doctors working in local hospitals will examine the health of students twice a year. The student will also be provided with knowledge about healthy food and sanitation. MoPH said the first-aid kit will be provided to all schools.
He said MoPH and the Ministry of Education (MoE) will jointly organize the program. “To reduce the risk of malnutrition and make students aware of health and sanitation issues, we are planning to expand the program,” Lekhnath Poudel, assistant spokesperson of MoE, said. He said the health check-ups and necessary medicines will be provided by MoHP while MoE will provide education on hygiene. He said MoE will provide training to teachers and include additional information in text books.
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