 is a collaborative initiative implemented by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the){kind=link}
Success of Zambia Government School Health Programme (SHP) – The Government School Health Programme (SHP) is a collaborative initiative implemented by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Directorate of School Health and Nutrition (SHN).
Healthy Learners, a non-profit organization, plays a technical support role in strengthening the link between health and education by ensuring that schools serve as healthcare triage spaces.
Zambia is one of the few countries implementing such a programme, setting a foundation for expansion into other countries in Africa.
Key Achievements:
• Health Rooms Constructed: 595 Health Rooms established in 20 districts across 8 provinces.
• Health Teachers Trained: Over 5,000 teachers trained as polyvalent community-based volunteers.
• Learners Reached: Nearly 1 million learners benefiting from health services in schools.
• Gender Impact: 61 percent of learners seeking care are female.
• District Expansion: Muchinga and Western Provinces have recently been onboarded, expanding coverage to all 10 provinces of Zambia.
Programme Impact:
• Healthcare Access & Absenteeism Reduction: The introduction of Health Rooms in schools has improved access to healthcare, reducing congestion at local health facilities and decreasing illness-related absenteeism.
• Disease Surveillance & Management: Utilization of a clinical digital tool for accurate diagnosis and triage, enabling early disease detection and treatment.
• Menstrual Hygiene Management: Targeted support for girls helps ensure continued school attendance.
• Support for Rural Communities: The programme provides tests and treatment for mild diseases like malaria and schistosomiasis, with referral-fast track systems in place for more severe cases.
Also Apply: Malawian Delegation Conducts Benchmarking Visit with Zambia’s HELSB
Inter-Ministerial Collaboration:
The School Health Programme operates under an Inter-Ministerial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MoH and MoE, reflecting the government’s commitment to school health and nutrition.
Future Projections (By 2028):
• Expansion to 70 districts nationwide.
• Construction of over 2,000 Health Rooms.
• Training of 15,000+ Health Teachers.
• Programme reach to 3 million learners.