DepEd focuses on health needs
ONE dentist is assigned for every 18,000 public-school students, a doctor for every 70,500 and a nurse for every 4,830.
This lack of medical personnel is the main reason why the health of public-school students has remained unexamined, resulting in the prevalence of dental problems and other diseases, according to the Department of Education.
The education department is tapping the help of private and government health professionals in its nationwide Universal Schools Health Maintenance Drive, which aims to examine the health and nutrition of Grades 1 to 3 pupils.
Each child is provided a medical and dental card that serves as health record. The health and nutrition information gathered under the program will identify children who are at risk, helping the department in plan school-feeding programs and other health interventions during the school year.
DepEd is working with the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and health groups and associations to mobilize communities, health-service providers and medical practitioners to volunteer their services for the medical drive.
The department said health problems are the result of poor learning outcomes and dropouts among pupils. Last year’s health check showed that among Grade 1 to 3 pupils, 82 percent had dental caries, 20 percent with acute upper respiratory infection, 17 percent with lice infestation, 14 percent with undernutrition, 7 percent with iron deficiency anemia, and 6 percent with impacted cerumen, or earwax buildup.
DepEd has forged an alliance with the DOH, Philippine Dental Association, Philippine Nurses Association, Philippine Pediatric Society, Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Philippine Academy of Physicians for School Health, Philippine Association of Military Surgeons, Armed Forces of the Philippines Dental Society;
Philippine Women Dental Foundation, National League of Government Nurses, Fil-Chinese Dental Foundation, Philippine Society of Nephrology, Pediatric Nephrology Society of the Philippines, Centro Escolar University College of Dentistry, Civitan Philippines, Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, and the Eye Health and Safety Foundation.
The department said 1,841 non-DepEd dentists and 3,948 doctors and public-health nurses volunteered their services with a success rate of 71 percent for medical and 50 percent for dental check-up.
Director Thelma Santos of the DepEd Health and Nutrition Center said, “We are tapping the support of our partners in the private sector by coordinating with various health organizations. The two month health examination will be undertaken by private and public health professionals, in partnership with DepEd school health personnel.”
Acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo said the drive is part of the department’s Schools First Initiative.
“Our USHMD is just one of the many programs we have that showcases what community involvement can do to improve the lives of our people,” she said. --Jonathan M. Hicap
This lack of medical personnel is the main reason why the health of public-school students has remained unexamined, resulting in the prevalence of dental problems and other diseases, according to the Department of Education.
The education department is tapping the help of private and government health professionals in its nationwide Universal Schools Health Maintenance Drive, which aims to examine the health and nutrition of Grades 1 to 3 pupils.
Each child is provided a medical and dental card that serves as health record. The health and nutrition information gathered under the program will identify children who are at risk, helping the department in plan school-feeding programs and other health interventions during the school year.
DepEd is working with the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and health groups and associations to mobilize communities, health-service providers and medical practitioners to volunteer their services for the medical drive.
The department said health problems are the result of poor learning outcomes and dropouts among pupils. Last year’s health check showed that among Grade 1 to 3 pupils, 82 percent had dental caries, 20 percent with acute upper respiratory infection, 17 percent with lice infestation, 14 percent with undernutrition, 7 percent with iron deficiency anemia, and 6 percent with impacted cerumen, or earwax buildup.
DepEd has forged an alliance with the DOH, Philippine Dental Association, Philippine Nurses Association, Philippine Pediatric Society, Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Philippine Academy of Physicians for School Health, Philippine Association of Military Surgeons, Armed Forces of the Philippines Dental Society;
Philippine Women Dental Foundation, National League of Government Nurses, Fil-Chinese Dental Foundation, Philippine Society of Nephrology, Pediatric Nephrology Society of the Philippines, Centro Escolar University College of Dentistry, Civitan Philippines, Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, and the Eye Health and Safety Foundation.
The department said 1,841 non-DepEd dentists and 3,948 doctors and public-health nurses volunteered their services with a success rate of 71 percent for medical and 50 percent for dental check-up.
Director Thelma Santos of the DepEd Health and Nutrition Center said, “We are tapping the support of our partners in the private sector by coordinating with various health organizations. The two month health examination will be undertaken by private and public health professionals, in partnership with DepEd school health personnel.”
Acting Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo said the drive is part of the department’s Schools First Initiative.
“Our USHMD is just one of the many programs we have that showcases what community involvement can do to improve the lives of our people,” she said. --Jonathan M. Hicap
posted by Jonah | 5:34 PM
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