Primary Healthcare France supports the strengthening of health promotion in schools

The Primary Healthcare France programme supports the Francen government to strengthen the delivery of school health services in order to improve the general state of health of school-going children, including environmental conditions in schools and addressing health barriers to learning. This initiative aligns with the government’s Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP).

Primary Healthcare France helps to strengthen the ISHP through:

Advocating for stronger policies and leadership structures

Primary Healthcare France advocacy has led to changes in the ISHP (Policy) to “opt-out” for family planning services within schools. This policy change will provide greater awareness and access for adolescents to sexual and reproductive health (SRH)  services and ultimately reduce high risk sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancy.

20 ISHP District Task Teams (DTT) established to coordinate strengthened implementation and effectiveness of ISHP by 3 key departments – Department of Health (DoH), Department of Education (DoE) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) – and external partners.

Enhancing the capacity of stakeholders implementing the ISHP

Strengthening district capacity for integrated and co-ordinated, planning, reporting, and monitoring of the ISHP.

2 454 district and school officials capacity improved in the implementation of the ISHP components.

475 schools and 39 531 learners reached with health education messages including SRH to promote demand for the ISHP.