INILUNSAD ng Department of Education, katuwang ang Department of Health, ang healthy learning institutions sa basic education sa pamamagitan ng seremonya na ginanap sa Quirino High School sa Quezon City, nitong Oktubre 11.

May temang “Pinalakas na Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd, Pinatatag na Healthy Learning Institutions,” tinipon ng pagdiriwang ang mga puno ng Executive Committee ng DepEd at DOH, mga kinatawan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng host city, at piling mga school health at nutrition personnel sa buong bansa upang itaguyod ang kahalagahan ng whole-of-government at whole of society approach para palakasin ang school health programs.

Itinatag noong 2018, ang Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd o OK sa DepEd ay ang pagsasama ng mga inisyatiba sa health at nutrition ng Kagawaran para sa epektibo at mahusay na implementasyon sa mga paaralan, sa pakikipagtulungan sa iba’t ibang stakeholders.

“I look forward to receiving the results of your consultative workshop summarizing the issues, concerns, and recommendations from regional school health and nutrition personnel, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” pagbibigay-diin ni Bise Presidente at Kalihim ng Edukasyon Sara Z. Duterte sa kanyang mensahe na binasa ni Pangalawang Kalihim at Chief of Staff Epimaco V. Densing III.

Sa simula ng taon, itinaguyod ng DepEd ang pakikipagtulungan sa DOH at iba pang pambansang ahensiya ng gobyerno upang palakasin ang school health sa ilalim ng basic education sector bilang Healthy Learning Institutions, sa pamamagitan ng Joint Administrative Order 2022-0001 na tinawag na Guidelines on Healthy Settings Framework in Learning Institutions, kasama ang Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education , Commission on Higher Education, Legal Education Board, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, at Department of Interior and Local Government.

Alinsunod ito sa Section 30 ng Republic Act 11223 o ang Universal Health Care Act, ang JAO ang namamahala sa pagtatalaga ng mga paaralan bilang healthy settings, base sa mga pamantayan na itinakda ng DOH at DepEd.

Ipinakita ng DOH ang pasasalamat nito sa DepEd sa pagsisikap na bigyang prayoridad ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral. Ipinahayag din ng Kagawaran ang commitment nito na suportahan ang DepEd sa pagsusumikap na ito.

“Through a whole of government and whole of society approach, the DOH commits to helping DepEd in ensuring learners’ health and well-being through improving access to health care, creating and writing healthy school policies; creating conducive physical and social environments; strengthening links with community on health; and reinforcing health skills and education. We are confident that this innovative strategy of deep cooperation between the sectors of health and education in the national, regional, and local levels will be fruitful in maximizing the positive impact of education in Filipino learners’ development,” sinabi ni DOH OIC-Pangalawang Kalihim Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho.

Ang HLI framework ay kasalukuyang pina-pilot-test sa 273 last-mile elementary schools sa walong probinsya at isang siyudad. Dagdag dito, ang nasabing programa ay gagamitin din bilang framework para sa OK sa DepEd.

“While the lessons they [students] learn within the classrooms are important for them to reach their potentials as future leaders of tomorrow, it is equally important that they be given the resources and tools that will enable them to maintain their health and care for their general well-being. In doing so, we are already giving them the means to step towards a future that is brighter, safer, and happier,” pagbibigay-diin ni Pangalawang Kalihim ng DepEd na si Atty. Revsee A. Escobedo.