Muscat: The Ministry of Health is preparing for the new academic year 2025/2026 with a comprehensive plan to improve students' health in schools and universities.
The strategy, with assistance from the School and University Health Department, aims to increase health knowledge and early illness detection, hence fostering a healthy and a safe educational environment as well as a better quality of life.
Dr. Shamsa bint Ahmed Al Harthi, Acting Director of the School and University Health Department, emphasized the significance of school and university health services. Pillars in promoting community public health through holistic programs that focus on students and give them the knowledge and abilities to live sustainable, healthy lives.
She emphasized that school health personnel offer a full range of services, including regular examinations, as well as the development of high-quality health programs in schools. These include: complete medical examinations for students in grades one, seven, and ten to identify health issues early and provide appropriate treatment. They also provide vision examinations as part of the eye health programme for students in grades one and four to identify any vision issues early, hence promoting academic success.
She added: The bundle also includes a hearing screening for first-grade kids as part of the Ear Health Programme, which aims to identify any hearing disorders. Could impair speech and learning, thus a health education program aimed at all grade levels, teaching staff, and parents to improve health knowledge and desirable practices.
Dr. Shamsa Al Harthi stated that the Ministry of Health provides a variety of complete services, programs, and initiatives aimed at improving the health of Omani citizens. Students in higher education institutions who offer basic and integrated healthcare.
These services include health promotion initiatives, youth counseling, mental health, health education, first aid, basic healthcare, referral and follow-up, and specific follow-up for chronic conditions.
She said the ministry is always eager to ensure that clinics on campus are prepared to deliver appropriate medical care, and that there are Regular supervisory visits to higher education institutions, as well as training for healthcare workers, to guarantee complete preparedness for the start of the new academic year.
Yusra bint Faqir Al Balushi, a senior specialist nurse at the School Health Department, stated that the Ministry of Health is watching The readiness of all school health clinics, as well as the availability of required medical equipment and supplies, to greet kids at the start of the academic year.
She emphasised the development of specific programmes that promote student health, such as the HealthPromoting Schools Initiative, which promotes the idea of the school as a community health promoter. The Psychosocial Support Initiative seeks to improve students' psychological and social wellbeing by offering a complete environment that promotes physical and mental health, as well as programs to raise awareness about psychotropic substances. Substances and medicines to safeguard young people from health and social hazards, as well as programs like Girls' Health (Mental Health) and Adolescent Health, are among the interventions used. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Program trains eleventh-grade pupils and school workers how to react to emergencies and rescue lives.
