The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal today chaired a meeting to discuss the modalities for rolling out of School Health and Wellness Ambassador (SH&WA), initiative under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the district.During the meeting threadbare discussion was held regarding the implementation of the program and functioning of the committees constituted there of.The School Health programme is an initiative targeting both education and health implementers, envisaged to facilitate an integrated approach to health programming and effective learning at the school level which will be effectively linked with other government initiatives such as Fit India movement, Eat Right campaign, Poshan Abhiyaan for an all-round and holistic development model of health for the school children.The DC briefed the officers and officials about their role and responsibility for successful implementation of the program in the district.In the meeting district and block level committees were constituted to monitor the progress of the programme and ensure convergence between the different departments.
The committees are entrusted to implement and monitor the progress of the programme at the district level and resolve programme-related issues and gaps at the district and block level and provide guidance for effective implementation of the programme at the block level.The DC will be chairman of District Level Coordination Committee and SDM will be chairman of the Block Level Committee.While highlighting the importance of the program, the DC said initiative will foster the growth, development and educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health and well-being.The DDC exhorted upon the committee members to ensure effective implementation of the programme and training of health and wellness ambassadors (nodal teachers) and periodically review the progress of the programme.It was given out that two teachers in every school will be declared health and wellness ambassadors, who will transact weekly health promotion and disease prevention information in the form of interactive activities.The meeting was attended by CPO, SDM Kangan, District Program Officer ICDS, DPO, CMO, Principal DIET Ganderbal, Dy CEO, DSWO, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, DHO, BDOs, ZEOs and other concerned.