NORTHERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS CONFERENCE UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE 14 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2006 PRESENTED BY ELIAS MOSIKARE

NORTHERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HEALTH PROMOTION SUB- DIRECTORATE HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS

N.C. PROVINCE PROFILE Geographically the largest, occupying one third of the country and vast, but with the least population of 2% 437 primary and high schools Province demarcated into 5 districts except for the Education Department with 4 districts

N.C. PROVINCE PROFILE CON… Districts Schools  Frances Baard 130  Namakwa 82  Pixley Ka Seme 102  Siyanda and Kgalagadi-combined

School Health Services used to be conducted vertically by a team of School Health nurses visiting schools periodically to examine and refer children presenting health problems. BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND CONT… The Service was phased out after 1994 because there were inequities and lack of standardization in the way the school health service was being provided.

BACKGROUND CONT… The Health Promoting Schools initiative gained ground during 2005 and much progress has been made in the province.

LAUNCH OF THE HPS INITIATIVE The Health Promoting Schools Initiative was launched on 9 October 2005 by the MECs for Health and Education.

LAUNCH OF THE HPS INITIATIVE CONT…. The School Health Services Programme which is located in MCWH was used as an entry point, and to date 48 schools have received school health services in accordance with the National School Health policy.

LAUNCH OF THE HPS INITIATIVE CONT…. In 2005, 13 schools which are widely spread in the five districts were identified to participate in the HPS Programme and integrated to other school based programmes.

SELECTION CRITERIA The school must be in a rural, urban or informal settlement area Buy-in of the school community Have existing health promoting programmes and need support

SELECTION CRITERIA CONT… No health promoting programmes Environment not supportive of healthy learning, working and living

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS Districts 05/06 06/07 06/07 Base Target Actual Base Target Actual Frances Baard Namakwa Pixley Ka Seme Siyanda/Kgalagadi Province Province

PROGRESS Provincial and district for a School based integrated health for a Provincial implementation guidelines Monitoring and Support tool 42 participating schools

CHALLENGES Staff/health promoters National standards for implementation Budget No MoU, which could create opportunity for proper planning, definition of roles and clear outcomes Community participation (incentives)

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