Dili: In a first, a dedicated health room has been established in the EBC 10 de Dezembru School in Dili, Timor-Leste. The pilot initiative launched on February 21 aims at enhancing student health, well-being and improving academic success.
Equipped with essential medicines, weight and height scales, and health awareness materials, the health room named as wellness room (sala saudavel), will also be staffed with a full-time trained nurse. The primary objective of this initiative is to improve the health of students by providing immediate medical assistance including injury treatment, management of acute and long-term illnesses, and facilitating various health education and outreach programs, including the school-based primary health package.
The School Health Room initiative has been implemented by the World Health Organization in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and has been funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the Say No to 5 S project- that focusses on addressing Starvation, Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis, Skin diseases, Smoking, and the consumption of Sugary/Alcoholic Drinks in Timor-Leste.
The selection of the pilot school, EBC 10 de Dezembru, followed a survey conducted by WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The pilot will serve as a basis for evidence-based advocacy in support for establishing health rooms and appointing trained nurses in more schools.
In the coming days, the initiative will be rolled out in 11 more schools across Dili, Bobonaro, Manufahi and Baucau in a phased manner.