THE HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN GAUTENG PROVINCE

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THE HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN
GAUTENG PROVINCE

• Presented by PAT BANDA
• HPS conference 14 September 2006
• University of the Western Cape

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Background

• There are 2300 schools in Gauteng and of
  these1429 are primary schools
• Our problems are the same as everyone elses
  problems Bullying, violence, gambling, teenage
  pregnancy, malnutrition, etc.

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Background cont.

• No Health Promoting Schools have yet been
  launched
• We have a number of schools that have gone it
  alone, through sheer determination of their
  management. We salute their efforts and hope to
  certificate them this year.

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Background cont.

• These schools are engaged in a number of
• health promotion projects such as
• Vegetable Gardens
• Feeding Schemes and food parcels for learners
• Collection of glass/paper/plastic for recycling
  and fund raising
• Scholar patrols and road safety
• Water-saving schemes
• School safety programmes
• Physical activity projects

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Current situation

• 14 schools have been identified, in township and
  rural areas, to pilot HPS with JICA funding, for
  3 years from when the contract is signed
• At least one of these schools falls into each of
  our 12 Education districts
• No more than 4 schools fall into anyone of the 6
  Health districts

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GAUTENG PROVINCE
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Current situation cont.

• A baseline study was conducted on 12 of the 14
  schools to highlight each ones specific
  strengths and needs

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Current situation cont.

• Planning has been finalised and problems/needs
  are devided into 5 programmes
• Nutrition and Physical activity
• Safety and Security
• HIV/AIDS
• Hygiene and Sanitation
• Access to services

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Current and future projects

• School Nutrition Program in partnership with DOLE
  South Africa and Johannesburg Fresh Produce
  Market from May 2006 until March 2007
• Peer education is being looked into by Mr. S
  Masilela who spent 7 weeks in Japan sponsored by
  JICA
• Clean it up
• (Environmental Hygiene project focus on the
  promotion of clean env. Sanitation, water,
  etc.

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Private Schools

• A questionnaire was distributed to 300 private
  schools to assess their Health Promotion status.
• 62 responded
• The schools are being visited with the aim of
  supporting their health promotion initiatives and
  accrediting them when they are ready

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Opportunities

• Finally moving
• Principals and educators are extremely keen
• Chief Director at GDE has been assigned to ensure
  cooperation
• JICA focus a great amount of time and money on
  educational and learning material

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Constraints

• Budget
• We are going to have to do a lot with a little
  after the 14 school are launched

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• Thank you