‘One school, one nurse’ programme effective in Ramechhap

MANTHALI (Ramechhap): The ‘one school, one nurse’ programme run in several schools of the district has found effective.

The adolescent girls have been specifically benefitted from the programme implemented with support from the Bagmati province government.

Srishti Tamang, a ninth grader of Manthali Secondary School, said the ‘one school, one nurse’ programme has turned to be a boon for adolescent girl students of community schools in the district.

Sonika Karki and Rojina Shahi, students of Sharada Sanskrit Secondary School in Ramechhap Municipality-8, also noted that they did not have any hesitation to go to school during menstruation for the sanitary pads and basic care being provided by the school nurses.

They had never been to school before when they were in period. The adolescent girls did not turn up to school during menstruation, rather they used to leave the class in the middle.

Narayan Prasad Ghimire, principal of Sharda Sanskrit Secondary School, Babiyakharka, said regular attendance of girls in the school has increased with the implementation of the school nurse programme.

Tanka Prasad Dahal, another principal of Manthali Secondary School having more than 2,000 students, said it would be easier if there were up to two nurses.

Principal of Rudraksheshwar Secondary School, Mugitar, Harka Bahadur Bhujel, said that the programme has been effective in the school as the school nurses inform the students and parents about the sanitation of the school.

According to the School Health and Nursing Service Guidelines- 2076 BS issued by the province government, there is a provision to provide this service in the schools operating plus two in the district, but this service has not been made available in all the schools.

According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, although the program has been implemented in some schools, there is difficulty in service delivery due to vacancy of nurses.

Netra Prasad Gajurel, chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, said the programme has been implemented only in 46 out of 93 secondary level community schools of the district.