Evaluation of a Comprehensive School Health Programme in Zambia

"Combination intervention which consists of:~* Upgrading sanitation facilities and constructing a 'health room' in the school~* Health teacher training: 5-10 teachers per school are recruited and trained for two weeks to become School Health Workers (SHWs) by Healthy Learners~* The SHWs: (1) deliver education on health and good sanitation and hygiene (2) coordinate with local clinics to deliver preventive care (e.g. school deworming and vitamin A supplementation); (3) assess sick students in the health room with a tablet-based clinical decision support system (CDSS); (4) treat sick students in the health room for some conditions (malaria, diarrhoea, schistosomiasis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis) or (5) refer to the health facility for treatment; (6) monitor absence of learners~* Referral: learners referred by SHWs are given a referral form by the SHW, which contains information about symptoms and suggested diagnosis by the CDSS. The learners are prioritised in the local clinic."

Schools implement the government policy of distributing deworming drugs and vitamin A supplementation to learners twice a year. Additional support from Healthy Learners ensures reliable delivery.