Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100151560300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Health programme to begin tomorrow

Shyama Rajagopal

KOCHI: The School Health Programme activity will start in the district from Thursday with the general cleanliness programmes that are usually taken up to mark Gandhi Jayanthi.

The first lessons on environmental cleanliness in schools, homes and the surroundings are expected to inculcate awareness on basic health and hygiene lessons. The training for teachers has been completed.

Each of the 101 schools in the district in which the School Health Programme will be started has been asked to come up with an action plan according to the 12-step guideline provided by the National Rural Health Mission. There are four zones in the district with 25 schools under each zone. The presiding officer will monitor the progress of the programme.

Each school can come up with its own initiative as part of the Health Club formed in the school. The best plan will be selected by the District Educational Officer in each zone.

As part of the curriculum, NRHM in association with C-DIT, Thiruvananthapuram and the Rotary Clubs, is planning to produce a bi-lingual documentary on ‘Obesity in Children’. Cardiologist Shekara Warrier, who is providing the input for the documentary, said that it focuses on the lifestyle diseases.

Dr. K.V. Beena, district manager of NRHM, said there are few spaces for children to play games nowadays.