“Empowering Children’s Health: Uttar Pradesh introduce digital health card”
“Empowering Children’s Health: In order to ensure sustainable and equitable health for children of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the Urban Development Department and Lucknow Smart City have collaborated to launch a pilot project called the “School Health Program” in Lucknow, whose objectives is to improve the health of students and has been implemented in three schools as a part of the pilot project.
What was the initiative?
The “School Health Program” introduced by Lucknow Smart City Limited is an innovative initiative focused on taking care of children’s health and setting them up for a successful future. As part of the program, three municipal schools in Lucknow – Aminabad Inter College, Kashmiri Mohalla Girls Inter College, and Kashmiri Mohalla Montessori School – have been chosen to conduct health checkups for 1765 children. The program creates a special digital health card for each child, which can be easily downloaded by parents, school officials, and administrators. These cards contain important information about the child’s health. The children receive thorough checkups, covering 130 different aspects of their physical and mental well-being. The digital health card is not just a record of the child’s health, but it also provides insurance coverage of up to Rs. 25,000 for hospital expenses. This means that if a child needs to be hospitalized, their medical expenses will be taken care of without any financial burden on the parents.
The main goal of the program is to improve the children’s academic performance and future opportunities by identifying and addressing any health issues they might have. The checkups include assessments of physical therapy needs, eye tests to detect color blindness and eye diseases, dental and oral health evaluations, as well as tests for hearing and speech abilities. In addition, the program includes workshops on important topics like child psychology, first aid, and maintaining good health and hygiene. Every six months, follow-up digital health reports are prepared to keep track of the children’s well-being.
What are its impact for State
The implementation of the “School Health Program” in Uttar Pradesh is expected to bring about significant improvements in the overall health of the state. By conducting thorough health checkups for children in selected municipal schools, the program aims to detect any health issues at an early stage and provide timely interventions. The comprehensive assessments cover various aspects of physical, mental, dental, and sensory health, ensuring a holistic evaluation of each child’s well-being. Additionally, the inclusion of insurance coverage for hospital expenses up to Rs. 25,000 through the digital health cards ensures that children have access to necessary medical care without financial burden. Moreover, the program promotes health education and workshops on child psychology, first aid, and health and hygiene, empowering children, parents, and school officials to make informed decisions and adopt healthy habits. Regular follow-up and monitoring through digital health reports every six months enable continuous tracking of progress and timely interventions. With these efforts, the “School Health Program” is poised to make a positive impact on the health of children in Uttar Pradesh, setting the stage for a healthier and more prosperous future for the state.
