BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: The Indian Government has launched a School Health Programme under which two teachers in every government school will be identified as 'Health and Wellness Ambassadors' to spread awareness about preventive health.

Rolling out the programme, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said, "While health screening and provision of services are ongoing activities, the newly added health promotion and prevention component will be implemented by two teachers identified in every school as 'Health and Wellness Ambassadors'. These ambassadors will be supported by class monitors as 'Health and Wellness Messengers'."

He stated, “The initiative under Ayushman Bharat shall foster the growth, development and educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health and well-being,"

“The programme will further strengthen the concept of preventive, promotive and positive health, which forms the fundamental cornerstone of the health and wellness centres of the Ayushman Bharat scheme,” Dr Vardhan added.

The minister also informed that the initiative will be effectively linked with other government programmes such as Fit India Movement, Eat Right Campaign, Poshan Abhiyaan for an all-round and holistic development model of health for the school children.

HRD Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal said the teachers are the best mentors for the children and now they will also act as 'Health and wellness ambassadors' and will disseminate various key information by organizing culturally sensitive activity based sessions for one hour per week for 24 weeks in a year to promote joyful learning.

The first phase of implementation will be in all the public upper primary, secondary and senior secondary schools of aspirational districts. Subsequently, remaining districts will be taken up in the second year, Dr Pokhriyal added.