Johannesburg – Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has handed over seven newly acquired Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) vehicles.
The move was part of efforts to improve the provision of comprehensive health services and to support learning by identifying and addressing health barriers that may affect learners in schools.
The ISHP focuses on screening for barriers to effective learning and teaching such as vision, hearing, oral hygiene, physical and mental health.
“These vehicles are going to address the poor coverage of health programmes targeting the school community,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“Our School Health Teams will now be easily accessible and mobile to provide regular health screening and edutainment which includes health education and health promotion through fun and games.”
The vehicles were allocated to the five district health services by the current need per district as follows:
- Johannesburg (2),
- Tshwane (1),
- Ekurhuleni (1),
- West Rand (1) and
- Sedibeng (2) at Entuthukweni Primary School in Kagiso, Krugersdorp.
The Gauteng Department of Health said it aims to increase the number of ISHP vehicles across the districts to 27 in the future, depending on budget availability.
In addition, the MEC also took the time to oversee school health nurses administering the single dose Human Papillomavirus vaccine to Grade 5 girls aged nine and above, to protect them against cervical cancer later in life.
The HPV vaccination campaign is currently underway in all Public Primary Schools and Special Schools from 5 February 2024 until 20 March 2024.
