HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOL PROJECT

1. HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOL PROJECT SHIHLOBYENI PRIMARY SCHOOL Presenter: Ms T J MASHAMBA Health Promotion Unit – School of Health Sciences University of Limpopo Presentation prepared for : HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOL CONFERENCE September 13 – 16, 2006 Health Promoting School Project

2. Introduction • HPS is an internationally accepted program that has recently been established in South Africa. It is underpinned by health promotion philosophy which has five components that together provide the basis for school health programs .These components are: • Development of the school as a supportive environment for development of health attitudes and practices. • To develop personal skills of the learners

3. Introduction cont. • Strengthening community action that involves the school and the broader community in seeking ways to address collective health needs by accessing resources. • Access to appropriate services to address the health needs of the school community • Development of a school health policy which will direct the school community to address health and learning needs.

4. Rationale • According to World Health Organization (WHO), the school health programs can increase the efficiency of the educational system and reduce common health problems in a school setting. • The Health promoting school programs can further advance public health, education and social economic development. The global expansion of school health programs , confirms the value placed internationally on such programs.

5. Rationale cont. • The School health and nutrition services are the only health services that specifically focuses on children in the six (6) to ten(10) years age range( WHO, 2003). • In recognition of this, the South African National Department of Health incorporated school health services as a firm component of Primary Health Care package of services that is to be fully implemented by the year 2006.

6. Rationale cont. • However, the success of a school health program is dependent on the good co-ordination between the health and education sectors, the appropriate organization of the program and the ability to provide equitable services despite variations in local needs and resources.

7. Health Promoting SchoolProject:Shihlobyeni Primary School; • This paper reports a case study of a school Health promotion intervention in operation since 1998. • The school impact data involved variables categorized into three areas: • School organizational factors supportive of health promotion and • Curriculum, teaching and learning. • Partnerships and services

8. Methodology • Two methods of analysis were used: • the direction of change • the magnitude of change • Results • Results demonstrate that schools successfully made organizational changes , such as the allocation of additional time , personnel and monetary resources, to support health Promotion. • Students supervised projects can contribute to the strategies developed and laid down by the Health care system

9. The initial Picture of the Auditorium before Shihlobyeni was launched as a HPS 1998.

10. Health Promoting school intervention • The project at Shihlobyeni Primary School serves as a model for rural schools wishing to develop into health promoting schools in South Africa and the entire continent. It reflects the successful application of theoretical concepts in a practical and meaningful way. • It is a project owned by the school and by the community, supported by the University of Limpopo Health Promotion Unit in the School of Health Sciences. • It was able to establish its own identity at its own pace in collaboration with other stake holders.

11. Shihlobyeni Primary School Project • This project has received recognition from several sources in Limpopo Province and is a model of transformation to convert other schools to be health promoting school. • Shihlobyeni is a Primary School founded in 1940 by Mrs Boristen. It was previously known as Lemana Infant School. • It served as a resource for teachers training practice area. • In 1953 February, the school was relocated to Magangeni Village at Elim next to Lemana Education Multi-purpose Centre and was upgraded to be a community school named Shihlobyeni Primary School supervised by A E Mpapele under Pietersburg School board. • The meaning of Shihlobyeni is: “The fountain of Knowledge”.

12. SOUTH AFRICA Limpopo Province LOCATION Shihlobyeni Primary School Vhembe District N E W S

13. Shihlobyeni Primary school • Magangeni Village forms part of Ward 12 of Makhado Municipality under the leadership of Chief T.J Mukhari of Njakanjaka clan. • The local community is situated on the Southern part of Elim Hospital in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. Vhembe District Limpopo Province

14. Needs assessment • In 1998, the educators observed a number of problems at school: • learners use to come to school with dirty clothes without bathing - lack of personal hygiene • the school environment was not taken care of, as papers were thrown all over the school yard, there was no proper refuse disposal, • some children presented with sore and open wounds which were not treated • health matters never formed part of the school agenda.

15. Vision • To make health accessible to learners and the community • The Vision on which the whole initiative was based, means that Shihlobyeni is a school in which health matters including: healthy childhood development, water and sanitation, protection from injuries and abuses, nutrition and social welfare of the children are addressed.

16. AIM – (long term) • The overall aim of the project is to develop and sustain health promoting programmes focusing on: • the primary school in the context of the community; curriculum, teaching and learning , organization and to create a supportive environment for learning to take place. • Ensuring that the school environment reflects what is learnt in the class room.

17. Plan of action in 1998 • The educators consulted the nearby Hospital (Elim Hospital) for assistance regarding the problems identified and how parents can be brought in to assist children with good personal hygiene. • The Hospital allocated Mr Paul Mthebule, an Environmental Health Officer who was employed as a Community Health worker, to address the issue; • Mr Paul Mthebule was registered for a Diploma in Health Education and Promotion for PHC with the University of the North, now Known as the University of Limpopo -Turfloop campus.

18. Plan of action cont • He then made use of the opportunity to put theory into practice and initiate a Health Promoting School at Shihlobyeni, using the learners personal hygiene as the entry point to address other problems at school. • Supervised individual projects are meant for field practice among registered students. After following the guidelines as laid down by the WHO, Shihlobyeni Primary school was launched as a health promoting School in 2001

19. Officials who attended the launching of Shihlobyeni Primary school 2001 from the National and Limpopo provincial Dept of Health

20. Collaboration The collaborative efforts from different sectors has made Shihlobyeni ahealth promoting school at this point in time. Inter sectoral collaboration 2001

21. Increased number of Stake holders and departments over time depending on the needs

22. Learners and educators 2001 The total enrollment Learners and educators 2006 57% are Girls

23. Shihlobyeni Primary School functional structure School committees Elim community

24. Long term objectives • WELLBEING OF A CHILD • promoting a rights–based, nurturing, caring, safe and supportive environment for children, youth and staff. • LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE • promoting leadership potential, excellence, talents and enhancing civic / community participation.

25. GOAL To have an auditorium wherein learners will experience and have first hand information from different professionals who visit the school regarding all matters related to health, education and development,with separate compartments which will serve as an administrative section, store room and a sick bay. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES To build an auditorium where in the learning experiences will be shared with other schools and visitors; to support child to child learning programmes; to conduct workshops for teachers to improve skills; create a supportive environment for the school and community to conduct meetings and other important gatherings . to accommodate equipments and teaching aids received from donors Short term Goals and objectives planned 2004

26. Short term Objectives • To addresses and integrate specific health issues into co-ordinated programmes, developing health literacy, life skills and to enhance the self concept of all learner; the health of staff, parents and the wider community through the existing structures and functioning of the school. • To integrates health promotion planning with broader school planning and development.

27. 2004 A small resource centre also serving as a library, store room, school hall and auditorium where visitors and students are accommodated to observe health promoting school activities displayed by learners. 15 Class rooms (2004) Toilets Electricity Water supply 2006 New Block with 4 class rooms increased the number from 15 to 20 A fence 4 more toilets Vegetable gardens Kitchen for nutrition Project Community stadium located nearby PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTUREAVAILABLE

28. Resources required • Store room- High priority • Auditorium - High priority ! • Offices /administration block • Science laboratory • Computers • More teaching aids • Proper Health point- First Aid center or sick bay room ( List compiled by the Head Master and staff)

29. Shihlobyeni Project • The role of the school environment and school health education impacts on the learning in the classroom and it focuses on impediments within the school environment. • The relationship of Health Education with existing subjects in the curriculum, are taken into consideration by educators. • The project also looks at the process of curriculum change; handling “sensitive” subjects by sending educators for training and involving parents and the wider community; • The role of parent teacher associations (PTAs), community-based groups and the relationships between teachers and parents for the benefit of the learners is displayed by the collaborative effort in different activities like Nutrition Program where unemployed parents are responsible for cooking. • The school environment; policies for health at school; the school as an example of good practice regarding water and sanitation, gardens and nutrition, relationships and family life, administration of medicines e.g. de-worming forms the corner stone of services in the health promoting school.

30. Shihlobyeni Project • The health promoting school addresses the needs of particular groups in schools including those with disabilities, learning difficulties; • Skills development : • Skills acquisition by learners is ensured by communicating with children in class rooms and out-of-school settings. • Teacher training takes the form of workshops, pre and in-service training. • Management and organizational activities: • The school management body plays an important role of improving the existing facilities by sending funding proposals to different potential funding bodies/ organisations. • Planning, implementation and evaluation of health education and promotion activities in school settings is done by the Health committee and it ensures the success of this initiative.

31. Existing Programs and activities • Child to child education program • Nutrition Program • Read project • Food garden Project • Parent education

32. 3 main aspects of Shihlobyeni P. School Local health services contribute through : screening, immunization, education of teachers and parents, expert advice on referral and policy development Health promoting school policy, resource allocation, Staff health and welfare, caring ethos underpins social interactions, considers diversity, social justice principles, occupational health and safety. Friendly waste disposal, cleanliness, shades, physical activity areas, passive recreation areas School community Planned sequential Curriculum, Student centered teaching, experiential learning, pre service and in-service training, Health topics integrated into other subjects

33. Recent programs • Child to child education • Nutrition program • Cleaning campaign for school and surrounding areas • HIV/AIDS campaigns by PLWA • Family life education • Safety program by SA Police force • Sports and culture • Fundraising

34. Recent achievements • Peer support :Meeting arranged on the 19th Sept. for 20 nearby schools to discuss HPS initiative. • Fund raising: A submission was made to erect a Cell C tower within the school yard which will generate 1,8 thousand /month. • Sustainability : weekly teacher training workshops • Computer literacy project for orphans sponsored by a nearby NGO. • A sponsored borehole will be in place by the end of 2006 • Year end functions for Grade 7 at the University of Limpopo to motivate learners.

35. Lessons learned • School governance is important • Self directed learning for learners • School support services • Home /school environment are addressed • Peer support to other schools – • Integration of specific health issues into a coordinated program of developing health literacy, life skills and self concept among learners.

36. Lessons learned cont. • It displays a school in the context of the local community; • All aspects of the school are addressed by Shihlobyeni as a health promoting school including: • Curriculum, teaching and learning • School organization and involvement of the community • Environmental issues • Health issues are addressed by the use of existing structures and the functioning of the school • Comprehensive school planning including: • Integration of health promotion planning with broader school planning and development

37. Conclusion • This project serves as model for rural schools wishing to develop into a health promoting school in South Africa. A health promoting school offers a proven opportunity to risk reduction among learners and educators as well as the wider community.