Kathmandu, August 31:

Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in coordination with the government agencies is launching a School Health and Nutrition Project (SHNP) in Syangja and Sindhupalchok districts.

JICA has allocated approximately Rs 15 million for the four-year project, which aims to develop physical, mental, emotional and educational status of primary school children.

“Research has shown that there is a positive relation between low nutrition level and low attendance as well as low enrollment at schools,” said Arun Khanal, national project coordinator, JICA.

“Regular health check-ups, revision of teaching materials on the School and Health Nutrition and awareness programmes under the project is expected to bring improvements among students and communities. The project will reduce dropout rates as well as improve health and nutrition behaviour and habits of students, schools and communities”, he added.

The project has selected 21 schools in three Village Development Committees in Sindhupalchok.

However, schools and VDCs in Syangja are yet to be finalised.

Two district and national level teams will operate simultaneously to implement the project.

A district-level team comprising District Health Office and District Education Office will monitor and supervise the implementation of minimum SHN that includes regular physical check-up and distribution of de-worming and iron supplement tablets.

The team will also develop monitoring tools and analyse the data collected.

The national-level team will prepare and review teaching materials on SHN, coordinate and collaborate with the development partners, review and revise National SHN guideline.