New Delhi: Member countries of the WHO South-East Asia region have resolved to work towards making 'every school a health-promoting school', while also committing to safe school operations during the pandemic.
Adopting a resolution at its regional committee meeting recently, member counties expressed concern over school closure during the ongoing pandemic, its impact on learning, growth and health of young children and adolescents.
"Schools have an important role in promoting healthy lifestyles, life-long healthy behaviours and to nurture human capital for sustainable development of any society. We need a whole-of-government approach to ensure children from all socio-economic backgrounds, including those with special needs, benefit from healthy schools," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia region.
The member countries emphasized the need to ensure safe reopening and operationalization of schools during the ongoing pandemic. In addition to that, the member countries also agreed to develop an integrated regional action plan on viral hepatitis, HIV and sexually transmitted disease, aligned with WHO's global and 2030 SDGs target.
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The regional committee meeting signed a deceleration to take lessons from the pandemic and strengthen health system resilience to ensure health security and achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development goals for health.
The meeting also deliberated upon accelerating efforts to prevent and control the prevalence of non-communicable disease, the action being taken for measles and rubella elimination and progress on universal health coverage.
