Health Ministry signs MoU with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

JP Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs presided over an MoU signing ceremony between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) for working in a cooperative partnership to improve the health and well-being of students in tribal schools. In line with the government’s commitment to universal health coverage with priority accorded to the health needs of those who require it the most, the endeavor is to ensure that health concerns of the tribal population are holistically addressed. Simultaneously, measures would have to be taken to ensure the tribal population is co-opted and not left out. Jual Oram assured that the government will implement the recommendations of the report. The report presents a comprehensive review of the health of the tribal population and there is a need to adapt strategies to bridge the existing gaps in the health of the tribal population.

The main objectives of this memorandum are to provide age appropriate information about health and nutrition to the children in schools, to promote healthy behavior among the children which they will inculcate for life, to detect and treat diseases early in children and adolescents including identification of malnourished and anemic children with appropriate referrals to PHCs and hospitals, to promote use of safe drinking water in schools, to promote safe menstrual hygiene practices by girls, to promote yoga and meditation through health and wellness ambassadors, and to encourage research on health, wellness, and nutrition for children.

For achieving these objectives, the health ministry will sensitize the principals and train two teachers designated as health and wellness ambassadors in all the functional Eklavya model residential schools, ashram schools, and other schools supported by MoTA using the existing capacity building mechanisms of MoTA in the states. MoTA will issue the required directives to the states for extending support to the health ministry in implementing all the activities related to school health program including sensitization of principals and training of health and wellness ambassadors.