‘One school, one nurse’ programme effective in Ramechhap

Manthali (Ramechhap), Dec 24: The ‘one school, one nurse’ program run in several schools of the district has been found effective.

The adolescent girls have specifically benefitted from the program implemented with support from the Bagmati province government. Srishti Tamang, a ninth grader of Manthali Secondary School, said the ‘one school, one nurse’ program has turned out to be a boon for adolescent girl students of community schools in the district.

Sonika Karki and Rojina Shahi, students of Sharada Sanskrit Secondary School in Ramechhap Municipality-8, also noted that they did not have any hesitation to go to school during menstruation for the sanitary pads and basic care being provided by the school nurses.

They had never been to school before when they were in period. The adolescent girls did not turn up to school during menstruation; rather, they used to leave the class in the middle. Narayan Prasad Ghimire, principal of Sharda Sanskrit Secondary School, Babiyakharka, said regular attendance of girls in the school has increased with the implementation of the school nurse program.

Tanka Prasad Dahal, another principal of Manthali Secondary School, having more than 2,000 students, said it would be easier if there were up to two nurses. Principal of Rudraksheshwar Secondary School, Mugitar, Harka Bahadur Bhujel, said that the program has been effective in the school as the school nurses inform the students and parents about the sanitation of the school.

According to the School Health and Nursing Service Guidelines- 2076 BS issued by the province government, there is a provision to provide this service in the schools operating plus two in the district, but this service has not been made available in all the schools.

According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, although the program has been implemented in some schools, service delivery is difficult due to the vacancy of nurses. Netra Prasad Gajurel, chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, said the program has been implemented only in 46 out of 93 secondary-level community schools of the district. —RSS