School Health Service

Abstract

School age is probably the most important phase of childhood. It is the period during which the child enters society’s training system from which he would emerge as a contributing member of the community according to his capabilities. The major problems of this phase do not lie in the field of disease and mortality but in growth and development to adequate physical, mental and emotional maturity and in the acquisition of skills and methods of learning. Even though the child will spend a large proportion of his working hours at school, the major responsibilities for his physical health have to be with the parents and the home environment; no school can become a substitute for these. On the other hand, if the child does not maintain adequate health, the benefits of education will be lost on account of absenteeism or lack of attention due to ill health.