Muscat: As students are counting down for the beginning of the new school year, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has made remarkable endeavours to boost and ensure a safe and healthy school environment across all schools of the Sultanate of Oman.
Taking into account that students in the age group of 5-19 constitute 31 per cent of the total population, MoH has set a number of health-oriented programmes and services, prioritising public hygiene at the schools and meeting the students’ health needs.
In a statement, Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, said a total of 732 nurses were disseminated across governorates, ensuring that students should have access to high-quality healthcare when needed.
The ministry has set a number of school-based clinics aimed at helping the students manage their illnesses during the school day. "94 per cent of the Sultanate of Oman's schools have healthcare units," the minister said.
Dr Al Sabti said the national plan for the university and school health prepared by the ministry for this year includes a number of various programmes and services to cover student segments in various educational grades.
According to MoH, the national plan covers eight parts of school health, namely: school health awareness, school health services, school health environment, nutrition and food safety, physical activity, mental health and counselling, family and community participation, and promoting the health of school workers.
The ministry has also rolled out four services for early detection, including a comprehensive medical screening for students in grades (1, 7, 10), eye health programme for students in grades (4, 1, 7, 10), a preventive programme for oral and dental health for students in grades (2, 1) and the ear health programme for first-grade students.
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