Disease prevention always refers to early intervention and specific approaches to ward off disease before its development and progression. Schoolchildren are vulnerable to infections such as the common cold, pneumonia, diphtheria, diarrhoea, malaria, chicken pox, measles, influenza, meningitis and so on.
To ensure school wellness, schools should periodically organise health check-up camps to inspect the physical and mental well-being of students. It is a simple yet effective step to deal with common health problems in school children.
Importance of disease prevention:
Schoolchildren are susceptible to coming in contact with each other, and their immune system is developing they are at greater risk of infection.
School children are undergoing growth and development, and severe illness at this age can have far-reaching impacts. As can be seen, disease prevention saves many children from harmful consequences.
Steps for prevention and control of diseases in school: To provide primordial prevention schools can focus on health education as a part of the curriculum as well as maintaining optimal hygiene on school premises. (Sanitation of common areas, practising hand hygiene at school, social distancing etc)
Primary prevention is to stop the onset of disease. It can be facilitated by creating awareness about vaccination in children, and developing protocols for a safe environment to avoid risk factors.
Secondary prevention is to identify health changes and take measures before the student is symptomatic. For instance, sneezing or coughing can be a sign of viral infection. At the school level, if teachers observe nuances in a particular student, they should guide him in screening. Connect with parents. Follow the protocol necessary to avoid transmission to other students.
Lastly, tertiary prevention is aimed to minimise the harmful effects of the disease. At this stage, medical treatment and rehabilitation are necessary to combat the illness. Students should strictly stay at home when sick.
Schools can conduct workshops for students and parents based on nutritional guidance, mental health and counselling, preventive care, exercise, sports etc.
On top of this, the annual health check-up camp has proven benefits for health promotion and disease prevention. A thorough inspection of school children can be conducted through biometric screening, dental examination, body composition analysis, eye and ENT examination, mental assessment, and cardiorespiratory assessment with high-end technology.
These Wellness examinations not only prevent infectious diseases in children but also avoid chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart problems. Experts can identify risk factors earliest and guide parents to incorporate healthy behaviour among their children.
Conclusion: Schools are role models for students to develop healthy behaviour towards disease prevention. Periodic health check-up is key to attaining optimal school wellness through comprehensive screening and expert guidance.
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