FG reviews 2006 national school health policy

The Federal Government is reviewing the National School Health Policy, initially established in 2006, to tackle new health challenges and enhance the well-being of students nationwide, stated Njideka Dorothy, Deputy Director and Head of the Sports and Health Education Division at the Federal Ministry of Education. During the 33rd LAPO annual development forum in Abuja, Dorothy emphasized the necessity of the review due to emerging health concerns and the need to integrate health and well-being further into the educational system.

She noted, "A key milestone in our achievements includes the ongoing review of the National School Health Policy. The National School Health Policy was developed in 2006, and since then, we have been running with that policy." Dorothy highlighted that new health issues, such as the renewed focus on COVID-19 protocols in 2020 and 2021, underscored the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the policy.

The Ministry of Education is dedicated to ensuring that schools offer safe and healthy environments, promoting learners' health, dignity, attendance, and academic performance. Dorothy stressed that access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices are crucial for quality education, explaining that proper handwashing behaviors can significantly reduce disease transmission.

She identified inadequate water supply, insufficient sanitation, limited funding, and poor maintenance as ongoing obstacles to effective school health programs. To address these challenges, the ministry called for better integration of water, sanitation, and hygiene into education planning, budgeting, supervision, and accountability systems.

Dorothy urged stakeholders, including development partners, the private sector, civil society organizations, and government agencies, to collaborate through strategic investments, technical support, school WASH assessments, hygiene education, and sustainable maintenance practices. She also emphasized the importance of improved coordination among the education, water, sanitation, health, and environment sectors to achieve measurable improvements in school health outcomes.

However, Dorothy lamented the poor access to essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities in Nigerian schools, citing that only 37% of schools have basic water supply services, 35% have basic sanitation services, and 30% offer basic hygiene services. According to the 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping report, only about 15% of schools budgeted for the maintenance of WASH facilities.

Dorothy described these statistics as more than mere numbers, representing the daily struggles of millions of Nigerian children.