The Delhi government will set up first-aid facilities in all 1,086 schools under its Directorate of Education at an estimated annual cost of Rs 48.87 crore, Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Sunday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.The facilities will provide immediate basic medical assistance to students during school hours. Each school will have a trained health worker, such as an auxiliary nurse midwife or a multipurpose health worker, an official statement said.The medical rooms will offer basic care, including wound dressing, oral rehydration solution and supervised temporary rest.
They will not provide diagnostic services or prescribe medicines, PTI reported, citing the statement.The initiative is intended to help students suffering from minor injuries, sudden illness, fatigue, dizziness and other temporary discomforts during school hours. The facilities will also provide girl students with a private space to address menstrual health needs.
The project will be rolled out in phases. It will begin with schools that have separate rooms available for the facilities, followed by those where alternative rooms or porta cabins will be set up.The proposal is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, which envisages safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. “Every child in our government schools deserves a safe and caring environment.
When a student falls sick or gets hurt during school hours, parents and teachers should have peace of mind knowing that immediate first aid and proper care are readily available right inside the school campus,” Sood said, according to PTI.Sood said the initiative would ensure that students have access to immediate basic medical assistance within school premises. Once implemented in phases, all 1,086 government schools under the Directorate of Education will have first-aid facilities.- Ends