JACKSON SITENGU,
CHRISTINE CHIHAME
Mongu, Choma
THE Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) is optimistic that the School Health Programme (SHP) will help Zambia attain universal access to health by 2030.
And President Hakainde Hichilema has donated BP machines to all health rooms countrywide.
Western Province Minister Kapelwa Mbangweta says the programme is a transformative initiative that has made significant strides in improving the health and education outcomes of learners countrywide.
Speaking during the graduation of 500 school health teachers in Mongu yesterday, Mr Mbangweta said with 48 school health rooms being built in four districts of Western, he is confident that learners will have access to quality health education and services.
The benefiting districts in the region are Nkeyema, Nalolo, Mongu and Limulunga.
“I urge all stakeholders to work together to create a province where every learner has access to quality health and education services,” Mr Mbangweta said.
And PDU head Kusobile Kamwambi said SHP has complemented Government’s free education policy.
“Free education doesn’t just come with a pronouncement and inviting a million or two more children into school. We look at all the other aspects of education, which includes quality health.
“So as Government we are really excited about this programme. It contributes to our numbers towards our target of universal access to health by 2030,” Ms Kamwambi said.
Healthy Learners partnerships and technical assistance vice-president Brian Kayongo hailed Government for its commitment to education and the well-being of children.
Dr Kayongo said the leadership shown by Government in implementing the School Health Programme has laid a robust foundation – one that is shaping a future where every learner can reach their full potential, both in the classroom and beyond.
“By building and equipping health rooms, training teachers in community health, and fostering peer support through buddy groups, the programme ensures students get care as soon as they need it,” Dr Kayongo said.
He said the 500 teachers who have graduated are part of 1,552 qualified tutors across three provinces, namely Muchinga, Southern and Western.
Dr Kayongo said the organisation is working with Government to expand the programme.
Meanwhile, 511 teachers and school administrators have graduated in Southern Province in SHP.
The graduates include 293 health teachers, 110 school administrators, 39 in-charges and 69 school health co-ordinators.
Southern Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa said 142 schools supported by 95 health facilities with more than 170,000 learners are currently benefiting from the programme in the province.
Mr Nanjuwa said this in a speech read for him by Southern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Yalonda
Malunga.
And PDU director Alfred Sakwiya said the graduation is not just an ordinary gathering but a demonstration of Government’s collective commitment to shaping the future of the country.
Healthy Learners monitoring and evaluation director Mulenga Mukanu said currently the programme is reaching 967,368 learners, trained 5,304 teachers, and built health rooms in 598 schools countrywide.
Dr Mukanu said by the end of this year, the programme will be servicing over 1.5 million learners.
