'School Health And Nutrition' Programme Launched

Punjab Minister for Schools Education Murad Raas and Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid jointly inaugurated 'School Health and Nutrition Programme' here at Government Central Model School, Lower Mall, on Monday.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Dec, 2018 ) :Punjab Minister for Schools Education Murad Raas and Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid jointly inaugurated 'School Health and Nutrition Programme' here at Government Central Model School, Lower Mall, on Monday.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Murad Raas said that programme aimed at ensuring good health and balanced growth of children along with provision of quality education. For this purpose, he added, a comprehensive e-monitoring system through Android Application had also been evolved in collaboration with Punjab Information Technology board (PITB) and Secondary Healthcare Commission.

The programme, he mentioned, would be launched in 1,700 selected public schools and in the first phase, it would be initiated in Lahore, Bhakkar, Jhang, D.G.Khan, Rawalpindi, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Mianwali and Sargodha. The scope of School Health and Nutrition Programme would gradually be extended to other districts of the province, he said and asserted the issues regarding nutrition needs and health of students could be monitored at school level through this programme.

Murad Raas explained that under this programme, school students would be provided facilities including ENT (eye, nose and throat) and other medical tests, while School Health and Nutrition Supervisors would have key role in provision of health and hygiene facilities.

He added that provision of fresh and hygienic foods at affordable prices would be ensured at school canteens/cafeterias, while water filtration plants were also being installed in government schools across Punjab.

Provincial Minister said that joint initiative of Schools Education and Health Departments would prove to be instrumental in shaping up a healthy society in future, which was the basis of Naya (New) Pakistan.

He said that future strategy 'The New Deal for Punjab' has been announced and 200 state-of-the-art science laboratories and 100 libraries were being established in government schools, besides construction of basic facility of toilets especially in girls schools.

PTI government, he said, was also paying special attention towards sports activities in educational institutions, he maintained.

On this occasion, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid saidthat students would be apprised about the importance of hygienic and balanced nutrition. She added that teeth and skin checkup would also be conducted under this programme.