SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

School health service is a branch of preventive

medicine which deals with medical inspection of
school children and their health protection.
Important branch of community health
In 1909 – first medical examination of school children
in baroda city
In 1953, secondary education committee emphasized
the need for medical examination and school feeding
programme
In 1960, Govt of India constituted a school health
committee to assess the standards of health and
nutrition of schoool children
 OBJECTIVES OF SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
1. Promotion of positive health
2. Prevention of diseases
3. Early diagnosis, treatment and follow up of defects
4. Awakening health consciousness in children
5. Provision of healthful environment

 COMMON HEALTH PROBEMS OF THE SCHOOL

CHILD
1. Malnutrition
2. Infectious diseases
3. Intestinal parasites
4. Diseases of skin eye and ear
5. Dental carries etc
ASPECTS OF SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES
1) Health appraisal - consists of
 Periodic medical examination ( 1960 committee
recommended checkups at the time of entry and
there after every 4 years
 Test for – vision, hearing, speech, routine blood
examinations, ht, wt etc
 Daily morning inspection – can be effectively done
by teachers for any changes in appearance and
behavior, check for any rashes, cough, rigid neck,
nausea, vomiting, body pain etc
2) Remedial measures and follow up – in case of any
health problem adequate treatment and follow up
should be given
(dental, ear, eye, nose and throat defects most prevalent
in India )

3) Prevention of communicable disease –

Immunization programmes should be organized
Health records should be maintained
Healthy practises like washing hands and face should be
encouraged
4 ) Healthful school environment – minimum standards to be
kept t maintain social, emotional and personal health of the
pupil
 Location – at a fair distance from busy places, roads,
markets etc
Premises should be properly fenced
 Site – at least 5 acres for primary schools and 10 acres for
higher schools
 Structure – walls with minimum 10 inch thickness
Nurseries should be single storied
 Classroom – per capita apace for students to be minimum
10sq ft
Not more than 40 students per class
 Furniture – provide single desk, chairs with proper back rest
 Doors and windows – cross ventilation to be provided
 Colour – should be white and to be periodically white
washed
 Proper lighting
 Water supply
 Lavatory – at least 1 urinal for 60 students and 1 latrine
for 100 students

5) Nutritional services – particular deficiencies in India

are (Protein deficiency, vit A, vit C, Thiamine,
Riboflavin, Calcium and Iron deficiency)

6) First aid and emergency care – training to be provided

to teachers, fully equipped first aid post should be
present in every school
7) Mental health – no distinction to be made between
race, religion, caste, rich and poor etc

8) Dental health – examine for dental carries and

periodontal diseases

9) Eye health services - for early detction of refractive

errors, squint etc

10) Health education – to bring desirable changes in

knowledge about health, attitude and practice
( importance of personal hygiene, environmental
health, family life etc )
11) Education of handicapped child – assist the
handicapped child so that they can lead as normal life
as posiible

12) Maintain records – Identification data

Past health history
Records of physical examinations
DUTIES OF SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
 Periodical medical inspection at age of 5, 9, 13, 17 yrs
of age
 Annual inspection of school children
 Arrange for immunization against infectious diseases
 Advice the parents on the mental and physical
condition of children
 Educate/train the teachers to recognize common
ailments of children
 Training of teachers about basic first aid
 Advice school authorities about proper ventilation,
classroom size etc