Plan for implementation of the Program of school health in Vietnam until 2026

Plan for implementation of the Program of school health in Vietnam until 2026 (Photo from the internet)

On September 4, 2024, the Minister of Health of Vietnam issued Decision 2616/QD-BYT regarding the Plan for implementation of the Program of school health in Vietnam in preschool and general education institutions linked to local healthcare systems for the period up to 2026.

Plan for implementation of the Program of school health in Vietnam until 2026

The plan specifies the main tasks and solutions to implement the Program of school health in Vietnam in preschool and general education institutions linked to local healthcare systems for the period up to 2026 as follows:

(1) Management, drafting related legal documents on school health work, and standards and regulations on school hygiene.

- Review and assess the implementation of Joint Circular 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDDT dated May 12, 2016 by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education and Training regulating school health work.

- Amend and supplement: Decision 1221/QD-BYT dated April 7, 2008 by the Minister of Health regulating medical equipment and essential drugs at schools to ensure effectiveness and appropriateness with the actual situation; revise the functions of district health centers and commune health stations accordingly;

- Develop nutritional standards for school meals;

- Direct the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures in schools appropriate to the epidemic situation.

- Direct the implementation of oral and eye care health programs for students at schools.

- Issue directives and guidelines for localities to effectively implement the content and activities of school health and student health care in educational institutions.

- Direct educational institutions and medical establishments with training functions or assigned to train in the health sector to develop, appraise, issue training programs and materials appropriate for each training subject and organize training and certification for individuals working in school health according to current legal provisions on education.

(2) Development of professional technical materials and training materials on School Health work

- Develop a training material set on first aid, accident and injury prevention in schools;

- Develop materials on epidemic prevention, school disease prevention, non-communicable disease prevention, nutrition - food safety, mental health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention for students in schools;

- Review and update epidemic prevention and control guidance in schools issued by competent authorities appropriate to the epidemic situation, ensuring safe direct teaching and learning;

- Edit and complete professional training guidance materials on school health for provincial, district, and commune health officials and educational institutions.

(3) Training and upgrading work

Annual training to enhance knowledge for individuals working in school health at the provincial, district, commune, and educational institution levels on school health work, first aid, accident and injury prevention in schools, food safety, oral health care, environmental hygiene, and prevention of epidemics, diseases and school-related diseases, non-communicable disease prevention, mental health, HIV/AIDS prevention, ensuring reasonable nutrition in school meals.

(4) Communication work to raise awareness

Enhance communication, education, and raise awareness among officials, staff, teachers, and students about school health and student health care, knowledge on disease prevention, school-related diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, proper nutrition, healthy and safe food, primary first aid, accident, and injury prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive health, sexual health for students, including:

- Review, update, issue communication materials on school disease prevention, epidemic prevention and control, primary first aid, accident and injury prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, communication materials on nutrition and food safety;

- Implement diverse communication methods suitable for each target group: communication via mass media (radio, television, electronic newspapers, printed newspapers), social networks (Facebook, Zalo, TikTok, Youtube, Viber, Lotus...), mobile phone messages, various internet-based communication forms, effective message transmission forms like: Infographics, video clips, audio clips, communication on the electronic information portals of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, the Government of Vietnam's electronic information portal.

(5) Direction and support for localities

Direct local health sectors to cooperate with educational sectors to arrange focal point staff handling school health at commune health stations and educational institutions to effectively implement school health work, student health care, primary first aid, accident and injury prevention, epidemic prevention, and HIV/AIDS prevention in educational institutions.

(6) Inspection and supervision work

Enhance inspection and supervision of school health work and student health care implementation at localities, organize intersectoral inspection teams on school health work and student health care, epidemic and disease prevention at educational institutions.

(7) International cooperation

Cooperate with domestic and international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, ...) on research, surveys, information exchange, and sharing of models and experiences in implementing school health work to promote student health care.

(8) Statistics and reporting:

Compile annual statistics on the implementation of school health work and student health management; collect annual or ad-hoc reports on local school health work; perform annual reviews and summaries on school health work.

More details can be found in Decision 2616/QD-BYT of 2024.

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