Establishment of Health Education Unit in Kondavil Ramakrishna Maha Vidyalayam was carried-out by Mr. C. Partheepan of 33rd batch under the guidance of Dr. P.A.D. Coonghe, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna 2014 from September 2013 to November 2013 as a requirement in Community Medicine and Family Medicine for the Second Examination for Medical Degrees part II examination held in August 2014.
These Field activities not only beneficial to the community but also they help to develop the skills in planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating field programmes among medical students.
These Field activities not only beneficial to the community but also they help to develop the skills in planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating field programmes among medical students.
The target group was the grade 6 to advance level students of the Kondavil Ramakrishna maha vidyalayam. The main objective of this field health activity was to promote the level of health education among the Kondavil Ramakrishna mahavidyalayam school children by encourage them to participate in health promoting activities.
The activity was assisted by Principal and the Teacher responsible for health club, librarian of the school. Initially health club was formed by selecting two members from each class room and a leader, secretary and treasurer was selected. Then a health education unit was created in the school library by using health education materials.
The students were participated to clean the fish tank weekly and look after the school gardening class-wise through the School health club. The health club members do health talks on health related topics in Morning Prayer time.
A body mass index (BMI) chart for relevant age and method of BMI calculation and using of this chart was exhibited in each class rooms, laboratory and library. The library had the facilities for measure weight and height. Health club meeting was conducted weekly and BMI calculation and using of this BMI chart was explained one day.
Finally there was an art competition arranged on the heading of “Health promotion in our School” and prizes given to best 3 students among grade 6 to 9 and another 3 students among grade 10 to advance level students in a prayer time by the Dr. P.A.D. Coonghe.
The activity was assisted by Principal and the Teacher responsible for health club, librarian of the school. Initially health club was formed by selecting two members from each class room and a leader, secretary and treasurer was selected. Then a health education unit was created in the school library by using health education materials.
The students were participated to clean the fish tank weekly and look after the school gardening class-wise through the School health club. The health club members do health talks on health related topics in Morning Prayer time.
A body mass index (BMI) chart for relevant age and method of BMI calculation and using of this chart was exhibited in each class rooms, laboratory and library. The library had the facilities for measure weight and height. Health club meeting was conducted weekly and BMI calculation and using of this BMI chart was explained one day.
Finally there was an art competition arranged on the heading of “Health promotion in our School” and prizes given to best 3 students among grade 6 to 9 and another 3 students among grade 10 to advance level students in a prayer time by the Dr. P.A.D. Coonghe.
An extract of the report submitted by Mr. C. Partheepan to the Department of Community and family medicine has been published bellow.
Introduction
The concept of ‘health promoting schools’ has been embraced as an effective way of promoting the health of children. Lack of knowledge about personal health and common diseases bring physiological, psychological and social problems to the community because the children of today are the future of tomorrow. So we should focus on providing information or developing skills and attitudes to help individuals make healthy choices about lifestyle or behavior. Child hood is the best time to learn the healthy habits that can last a life time and better child health is widely thought to improve school performance
Objective
To promote the health education by establishing of health education unit in Kondavil Ramakrishna Mahavidyalayam school.
Specific objectives
Organization of activity
After getting the permission to do the field health activity from the department, permission derived from the school principal through the head of the department and zonal director of education, Jaffna zone. Then health education materials were collected those are hand outs, leaflets and booklets from the department, the area PHI office and Nallur MOH office. Then guidance derived from Public health inspector of Kondavil area to carry out the field health activity.
Activities
Achievements
At the end of the field health activity the school students acquired skills to;
This field health activity programme was a successful one. The Medical student gained the skill to organizing and conducting a programme through community participation by this field health activity. Also he was able to gather information regarding the importance of school health promotion.
Improvements
A well functioning health club and health education unit is formed and that is functioning continuously. Even though there was no separate room for the health club in the school however the health unit is functioning in the school library currently. The school principal, teachers, kondavil area PHI and students are actively participating in the health promoting activities and I hope these improvements may leads to a considerable change in the health of the school community.
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my very great appreciation to,
- Mr. Chandran Partheepan, 33rd batch, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna
The concept of ‘health promoting schools’ has been embraced as an effective way of promoting the health of children. Lack of knowledge about personal health and common diseases bring physiological, psychological and social problems to the community because the children of today are the future of tomorrow. So we should focus on providing information or developing skills and attitudes to help individuals make healthy choices about lifestyle or behavior. Child hood is the best time to learn the healthy habits that can last a life time and better child health is widely thought to improve school performance
Objective
To promote the health education by establishing of health education unit in Kondavil Ramakrishna Mahavidyalayam school.
Specific objectives
- Provide materials for get knowledge about personal health, and make awareness about infectious diseases and hazards.
- Create the good idea in the important of infectious disease control programs.
- Create an environment to get health education easily.
- Encourage the students to participate in health promoting activities.
Organization of activity
After getting the permission to do the field health activity from the department, permission derived from the school principal through the head of the department and zonal director of education, Jaffna zone. Then health education materials were collected those are hand outs, leaflets and booklets from the department, the area PHI office and Nallur MOH office. Then guidance derived from Public health inspector of Kondavil area to carry out the field health activity.
Activities
- Discussions were held with the principal of the school and the teacher in charge of health club. Then members for the health club were selected from each class rooms with the help of the teacher and first meeting conducted.
- Health education unit initiated in the school library with the participation of the health club after keeping health education materials. The health club members introduced about it in their class rooms.
- The Materials used were BMI chart for each age since the age of 5 up to the age of 19 with usage guide, materials on personal health care, nutrition, communicable and non-communicable diseases which are hand-outs, books let.
- The school students were arranged to clean the fish tank weekly and to look after the school gardening by class wise.
- The health club members were arranged for speech on health topics in morning prayer time.
- The prepared BMI charts were posted in every class rooms, library and laboratories through the health club members and weight scale and height scale are kept with the BMI chart in the library
- Health club meeting was conducted weekly and BMI calculation and using of this BMI chart was explained.
- The health club members arrange a weekly health check-up for personal hygiene such as oral hygiene, nail and hand hygiene.
- An art competition on the heading of “Health promotion in our school” was arranged with the help of school art teacher.
- The date was fixed the for prizes giving programme to best 3 students among grade 6 to 9 and another 3 students among grade 10 to advance level students in an arranged programme which was the day for evaluation of the field health activity by the supervisor - Dr. P.A.D. Coonghe.
Achievements
At the end of the field health activity the school students acquired skills to;
- Maintain a good personal hygiene.
- Know the important of physical activity to healthy life.
- Know about healthy meals.
- Know the basic thinks on communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Be competent in health promotion and disease prevention.
- Creating an environment for emotional and social well being particularly keeping the school environment clean and neatness.
- Calculate BMI and use the BMI chart that exhibited in class rooms, arrange a weekly health check-up for personal hygiene such as oral hygiene, nail and hand hygiene, arranged for speech on health topics in morning prayer time, conduct a monthly health club meeting with all the members and teacher in charge and share the works for health promotion of the school.
This field health activity programme was a successful one. The Medical student gained the skill to organizing and conducting a programme through community participation by this field health activity. Also he was able to gather information regarding the importance of school health promotion.
Improvements
A well functioning health club and health education unit is formed and that is functioning continuously. Even though there was no separate room for the health club in the school however the health unit is functioning in the school library currently. The school principal, teachers, kondavil area PHI and students are actively participating in the health promoting activities and I hope these improvements may leads to a considerable change in the health of the school community.
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my very great appreciation to,
- The supervisor Dr.P.A.D. Coonghe for his valuable and constructive suggestions during the planning and development of this field health activity. His willingness to give his time so generously has been very much appreciated.
- The head of the department of community and family medicine Dr.R.Surenthirakumaran for providing us such a good learning experience and permitting this field health activity to be executed.
- Mrs.M.Sivarajah, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine for her valuable advice in carrying out this project.
- Mr.Premkumar, Public Health Inspector Kondavil area for the advises for create the health education unit and for the provision of health education materials.
- Mr.Bamadevan, Principal, Kondavil Ramakrishna Maha Vidyalayam for supporting in all possible ways.
- The teacher in charge of Health club and the librarian and the art teacher of Kondavil Ramakrishna Maha Vidyalayam for giving a good support and help.
- The students of Kondavil Ramakrishna Maha Vidyalayam for arrange the health club to function well continuously.
- All hearts who wished and gave shoulder to make this project a success
- Mr. Chandran Partheepan, 33rd batch, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna