Information session highlights importance of School Health Clubs and student wellbeing

A half-day information session on the theme ‘Strengthening School Health Clubs and student wellbeing’ was held, today, at the auditorium of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Réduit, in the presence of the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad; the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative, Dr Abdou Salam Gueye; and other personalities.

The session aimed at empowering schools to create safer and healthier environments through student-led health promotion initiatives. The event brought together secondary school heads and managers. Presentations focus on the key role of the School Health Club Programme in promoting healthy lifestyles, mental wellbeing, prevention awareness and student engagement within schools.

The Heads of Schools and Managers were briefed on the way to review the organisational framework for more effective health management and identify activities to be implemented according to a structured timeline. Eight activity categories were proposed namely physical activity; sexual and reproductive health; nutrition; environmental health; mental health; safety and First Aid; substance prevention; and health literacy. Schools will receive a support voucher of Rs 5,000 to assist in these initiatives.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Blood Donors Association, EDYCS Epilepsy Group, the National Agency for Drug Control, the Communicable Disease Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness also shared expertise and experiences with participants. In addition, the Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr Leena Mewasingh, delivered a presentation on the teenage brain and the way neuroscience can help those working with young people.

During the information session, a poster on emotional wellbeing which would be distributed to all schools was launched. The objective is to provide resources and support for stress management, peer support, and help-seeking behaviours. Moreover, two secondary institutions were awarded a cheque of Rs 10,000 each, namely Droopnath Ramphul State College, for their excellent student engagement in health activities, and Patten College boys, for their consistent health club activities.

In his address, the Minister reiterated Government’s commitment to provide not only quality education to every child in Mauritius but also the health and wellness support he or she needs to thrive. School health clubs, he said, are deemed to be essential partners in this mission.

According to Dr Gungapersad, the Ministry is developing comprehensive policies for all children in Mauritius to equip them with the relevant knowledge and tools for their wellbeing, while also creating pathways for students who may not perform well academically. He was adamant that adults have a responsibility to care for children, instil the right values, and enable them to learn at their own pace.

For his part, the WHO Representative spoke on the critical importance of health promoting schools in prevention and raising awareness as he sounded the alarm over the high incidence of diabetes and obesity among Mauritian children. He highlighted the WHO’s global vision that every school should be a place where students learn not only about academic subjects but also the skills and values for healthy living.

11 May 2026

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Topics: Health, Education, Youth