APPLIED HEALTH MODEL
School Health and Public Health Messaging
Many schools in resource-constrained communities do not have a dedicated school nurse or any health care worker. This makes it impossible for students to access basic care while in school. We collaborate with the existing public health system to train school-based health agents (SBHA) who provide first aid and psychosocial and emotional support.
We equip students with practical skills through simulations or real case reviews. For example, students have a classroom-based session on how to calculate body mass index (BMI) and interpret results. This session is followed by an assignment helping them to use their skills in their community. Our goal is to build competencies necessary for students and teachers to detect risk factors and make urgent decisions. Preventing non-communicable and neglected tropical diseases among students and their family members improve students’ attendance and performance.
Building Strong Linkages Between Schools and Health Facilities
School-based health agents serve as an interface between schools, families, and health facilities. They meet with individual family members to develop a health plan which can vary depending on the situation. In some cases, the plan would be to provide direct counselling to affected students families or reaching out to a local community health worker to ensure a close follow up. They also help with facilitating a referral to the nearest health facility.
Prevention of Neglected Tropical Diseases
While preventable through clean water, sanitation, and a treatment that costs less than $1 per child, intestinal parasites remain the major cause of poor school attendance and dropout rates in low income countries.
Joint Planning and Coordination
We foster joint planning and coordination of health promotion sessions between students and families. These efforts enable health facilities and schools to develop a comprehensive health education and prevention agenda. Joint planning meetings are guided by the existing data from national health information system and local epidemiological surveillance or students’ health records. Following identification of priorities, schools and health facility leadership form a joint task force to support and track the implementation. Local and district health and education units play an active advisory role throughout the implementation.
