Launching Aksharam Arogyam, the comprehensive school health programme, here on Friday, Health Minister Veena George said that the initiative will earn a place in the history of the State’s health sector.
A collaborative project of the Health and General Education departments, Aksharam Arogyam will screen children for various health parameters, create comprehensive health documents of every child in a school, and issue them health cards which may be converted later to electronic medical records.
This is also an initiative wherein schools will take an active lead in promoting health awareness and healthy lifestyle habits among children through dedicated training programmes, so that children pick up good eating and living habits in school and take these back to their families and the community.
The initiative thus envisages children becoming health ambassadors for the society.
All schools that join the initiative will conduct health assemblies and set up health corners to encourage healthy lifestyles and discourage unhealthy habits.
