School Health Program : International Trend

ABSTRACT

Programs that promote health through schools (school health programs), when delivered through schools that are themselves organized to promote health (health-promoting schools), are one of the essential means through which the twin goals of "Health for All by the Year 2000" and "Education for All" can be achieved. There are numerous evidences that school health programs are cost-effective and highly beneficial for adolescents themselves and communities they are belonged to. These days, the world's trend for school health programs has two directions. One is that to achieve best goals for school health, well-organized efforts are needed from governments, communities, schools, parents, and doctors. So, a new concept of 'comprehensive school health programs' is emerging. The other is that physicians should play an active roles not only for the school health promotion and school health education but also for the other steps including marking polices, and advising community members who are concerned with school health services. Now, it is also time for Korean doctors to be an advocate for comprehensive school programmes and to participate actively in those programs.