EDITORIAL
Towards 100 yrs of School Health in India.
Dr Puran Prakash, is Editor in
Chief,of School Health in India. He is also the Founder and Gen Secy
of SHARP NGO ( India's Largest School Health Network)
 I
had the chance of addressing a gathering consisting of
students and luminaries of Baroda (Vadodara) city in Gujarat
recently. It reminded me of Sir George Newman, who nearly 100
yrs back laid the foundation of School Health in India, which resulted
in the beginning of school health service in India in
1909 when for the first time medical examination of school children
was carried out in Baroda City. SHARP NGO is planning in a big
way to start the centenary celebration of School health in India
beginning this year from the Baroda City , the birth place of
School health in India.
The Bhore Committee (1946) reported that School health services
were practically non existent in India and where they existed, they
were in an under-developed state. In 1953 the secondary education
Committee emphasized for the need medical examination of pupils and
school feeding programme. In 1960 the government of India constituted
a school health committee to assess the standard of health and
nutrition of school children and suggests ways and means to improve
them. The committee submitted its report in 1961 containing many
useful recommendations. During the five years plans many State
governments have provided school health and school feeding programme
to the students/pupils. In spite of these efforts to improve school
health it must stated in India as in other developing countries, the
school health services provided are hardly more than a token service
because of resources restrains and insufficient facilities.
It was in the year 1998, when the foundation of SHARP School Health
project was laid by me and my team. The last 10 years have been a
tough time for all of us to bring about the necessary
change in transforming school health from the narrow
concept of medical examination of school children to the present day
broader concept of comprehensive care of the health and well being
of children throughout the school years. We have also been able to
bring in latest technological innovation in the field of Health
records management and health care delivery system in the schools by
digitalising the health records of several lakhs of school children
throughout these years. I congratulate all the people who have
been working all the years to bring the health at the doorstep of
schools for the school children, teachers and their parents in a
highly cost effective manner.
The great point of satisfaction is that the Central and various
state Governments have started showing great interest in the field of
school health. various new schemes are being announced by the Govt and
school education boards to make the concept more popular. The
role of NGO's assumes a great importance since they are catalyst of
change and work in close proximity with the civil society. SHARP NGO
is reaching out to various cities/ towns across the length and breadth
of the country.
I through the platform of this newsletter would like to appeal to
the Government, Corporate houses, schools, health administrators/
professionals and various health agencies to come forward in a big way
to promote the concept of school health in the coming centenary year
of school health in India. SHARP NGO will provide its necessary
assistance for the cause.
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