L-G launches Student Health Card

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 5

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu today launched the Student Health Card to improve the health and overall well-being of over 12 lakh students enrolled in various government schools across the Union Territory.

These Student Health Cards will be distributed to all government schools for maintaining a proper health record of all enrolled students and will contain information about the immunisation record of a child, bi-annual examination of a child- head to toe for 4Ds to find out defects at birth, deficiency diseases and developmental delays, check list of all commonly existing disorders among children and their preliminary diagnostic tools, tabular description of periodic health profile matrices and a brief descriptions of commonly occurring diseases and ailments among children. The distribution of health cards and first check up will be completed by mid May.

While addressing the gathering, the Lt-Governor observed that focus on health and education was a nation building strategy. He said health and education were intertwined as healthy children had improved scholastic achievements as good health facilitates children’s physical and mental development and at the same time education contributes to their awareness about being healthy through informed health choices and adoption of healthy behaviours. In fact, there is an immediate need of shifting from curative healthcare approach to preventive healthcare across the board, Murmu said.

“Parents have to be part of this initiative as they are one of the primary stakeholders, besides, teachers, school managements, and the government. Role of the parents is imperative to achieve the goal of well-being of students by making children aware about the various diseases such as the most recent coronavirus (COVID-19) and various health choices and behaviours like water, sanitation & hygiene. Aware students will be torch-bearers of tomorrow, guiding the future generations”, the Lt-Governor added. Mission Director, Mid-Day Meal Scheme Arun Manhas, said the medical check-ups of the students would be done in collaboration with the directorate of National Health Mission (NHM) .