Perspective: Opportunities and Scope for Expanded Deworming Programs for Soil-Transmitted Helminths in India

The current deworming strategy for soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) focuses on pre-school and school-aged children and women in the reproductive age to eliminate morbidity. However, mathematical modeling and meta-analysis show that STH could be eliminated if the entire population, including adults, were treated. The Government of India (GOI) has been deworming children through various maternal and child health programs and school health programs. One of the largest initiatives is the school-based biannual deworming program for children aged 1-19 years in the ‘National Deworming Day’ since 2015. Women of the reproductive age have the opportunity to get dewormed under the Anemia Free India program. Adult men and women have the opportunity to receive Albendazole in the lymphatic filariasis (LF) endemic districts. The gaps in deworming are women above the age of 49 and adult men above 19 years, living in non-LF endemic areas. Understanding gaps in deworming will help plan policy changes and program strategies for STH elimination in India, which has 21% of the global STH burden, as well as in other STH endemic countries.

Improvements in the school environment—results of a Swedish school project 2005–2011

Summary To examine whether a public health project to reduce problem behavior in schools and improve the classroom climate, undertaken among eight secondary schools in a municipality in Sweden, was accompanied by favorable changes in the school environment over time. Data were collected from ninth grade students (aged 15–16 years) at three different time points: the year before the project began (2005), during the project (2008) and when the project finished (2011). Changes in the school environment, measured as damage, littering, noise and classroom disorder, were compared between the project municipality and a comparison group of other municipalities in the same county, using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Descriptive comparisons were made between the schools within the project municipality. The school environment improved significantly from 2005 to 2011 in the project municipality compared with the other municipalities. The school environment was improved in all schools within the project municipality. The biggest improvements took place in two schools which systematically worked with one program incorporated into the school schedule. This study demonstrates that it may be possible to improve the school environment by implementing health programs. Further studies based on experimental designs are required in order to confirm the potential and efficiency of school health programs.

OPTIMALISASI USAHA KESEHATAN SEKOLAH/MADRASAH (UKS/M) SEBAGAI DAYA UNGKIT MUTU SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA

Humans are the capital of national life. Human resources that can uphold a nation are quality human resources. Quality human resources are human resources that have positive skills, knowledge, and psychological qualities. To achieve quality human resources obtained through education. It is very important to describe how schools can form quality human resources, one of which is through the school health program. The method used in this article is a literature review, starting with analyzing written sources from social media and scientific article manuscripts. These sources analyze the quality of human resources, school health program business policies, and the quality of human resources caused by human resource programs. Quality human resources are people who have the skills, knowledge of religious knowledge, have a good character. Quality human resources, obtained from schools, especially school health programs. Through school health program, accustomed to developed an optimal physical and mental health. Optimal health, is the initial capital to carry out various education and play a professional role in life.

A Clinical Study on the Role of Homoeopathy in Managing Anxiety Disorders in School Going Children of Kanniyakumari District

Childhood anxiety disorder is one of the emotional disorders which are not due to any abnormalities in brain development or function but improper thoughts and emotions. It has become very common in this world of competition. But these are usually not identified and treated in children. The prime aim of the study is to assess the effective use of individualized Homoeopathic medicines in treating anxiety disorders in school going children of Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. This study also aims to determine the probable causes and also the type of anxiety disorder prevalent in school-going children. A sample of 30 cases presenting with anxiety disorders was selected using purposive sampling technique from school health programs conducted at Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College, Kanniyakumari district. Every case is subjected to screening using a basic diagnostic tool Screen for child anxiety related emotional disorders (SCARED), and those cases identified with anxiety disorders will be sent for detailed case taking. Medicine was prescribed according to the individualization and totality of symptoms. The improvement was monitored after 3 to 6 months of prescription by recording the variations in the scoring criteria of the SCARED tool.

Role of Schools in Tobacco prevention-A Review

Tobacco use causes serious health problems. Its use presents a crucial threat to the well-being of children. School health programs to prevent tobacco use could become one of the most effective strategies to reduce the burden of tobacco induced illness and make a substantial contribution to the health of the next generation. Preventing as many children as possible from starting tobacco use is feasible and worthwhile, both economically and in terms of improved health of the population. This review discusses the various school-based strategies in the field of tobacco-use prevention and cessation to help school personnel implement effective prevention programs.