Health camp in schools to fight stress

KOCHI: For the general well-being of students and to equip them to face the added stress of approaching examinations, the Directorate of Higher Education is conducting health camps in schools that have Souhrida Clubs.“A team of doctors will interact with the students and help them cope with stress, be it physical, mental, adolescent-related or academic-related,” Higher Education director Mohammad Saghir said. Only 800 schools have Souhrida Clubs now. The scheme is being implemented by the Career Guidance and Adolescence Cell under the Directorate.Sessions will be held in gynaecology where  adolescent boys and girls can identify their emotional and physical problems related to their growth, for the nuclear family system restricts them from airing or sharing their anxiety, said Dr S Naseeb, state coordinator of the cell. Sessions will be held with a psychologist or psychiatrist for dealing with mental health issues. Among the six lakh students, only about two lakh have breakfast. A nutritionist will guide them about their requirements. A physician will discuss general health issues. “Many doctors have volunteered to participate,” he said.The Health Services Department, National Rural Health Mission and Child Development Society have agreed to cooperate. Each school will be given `6,800, for which the government has allotted a fund of `45 lakh.“We have identified a team of expert doctors with good communication skills to conduct the programme. There are plans to extend the screening programme to the higher secondary level, said Dr Rani, state coordinator, School Health Programme. “We hope to complete the programme by this month-end,” said Naseeb.