946 school clinics and 1,265 doctors and nurses welcome the academic year with readiness

Abdul Karim Al-Abdullah: The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sand, confirmed the full readiness of school health services to welcome the new academic year, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to providing a healthy and safe school environment, and enhancing prevention, early detection, and professional management of students’ health conditions across the country’s various governorates.

Dr. Al-Sand stated that the start of the academic year brings renewed hopes and great aspirations for our students and their families, emphasizing that the Ministry of Health shares parents’ concerns and places the health and safety of their children at the forefront of its priorities through an integrated system of school clinics and qualified medical and nursing staff.

He clarified that school health services cover government schools, religious education schools, and schools for students with special needs, through 946 school clinics, in addition to eight school health centers within primary healthcare facilities. These centers include clinics for student examinations and rooms for opening health files and administering vaccinations, ensuring the integration of preventive and health services provided to students.

He noted that the system includes 72 doctors and nurses distributed across the country’s governorates, along with 1,193 nursing staff members, of whom 1,027 are assigned to schools and 166 work in school health centers.

Dr. Al-Sand explained that the Ministry of Health ensures the qualification of medical and nursing teams during the summer period through necessary courses and training programs, thereby enhancing their readiness to perform their professional duties and improving their efficiency in managing various health cases within the school environment, in accordance with approved procedures and protocols.

He added that this readiness complements a comprehensive health and preventive plan launched prior to the start of the academic year, which included a field campaign conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education targeting more than 900 government schools to enhance environmental sanitation, contributing to the preparation of a healthy and safe school environment for students and both teaching and administrative staff.

He stressed that school health is not limited to handling emergencies or providing care when needed, but represents a key partner in prevention and health awareness, monitoring students’ growth and well-being, and instilling healthy behaviors from early school stages.

Dr. Al-Sand called on parents to provide school administrations and school clinics with accurate and updated health information about their children, especially in cases of chronic diseases, allergies, or regular medications, and to ensure that required vaccinations and examinations are completed. He also emphasized the importance of adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and breakfast, and advised against sending students to school if they exhibit symptoms that could affect their health or that of their peers.

He also addressed students, urging them to make healthy habits part of their daily school routine, including handwashing, eating healthy food, drinking water, engaging in physical activity, avoiding sharing personal items, and reporting to the nursing staff or school administration if they experience any health symptoms.