A health promoting school (HPS) is a school that consistently strengthens its capacity as a safe and healthy setting for teaching, learning and working. (1) HPS helps promote health and educational attainment in schools to better physical, social–emotional, and psychological conditions for health as well as for positive education outcomes. (2) Worldwide schools are getting converted into health promoting schools, and India cannot be left behind in this  ongoing advancement.

On 12th October 2021 at Delhi, WHO, along with several specialised agencies of the United Nations, namely UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP, has given a call for action, for “Making every school a health promoting school: Scaling up implementation of comprehensive school health programmes for promoting health and well-being of students and staff.” India has also been a signatory to the same.

Health Promoting Schools Initiative of IAP-NCDPA

It is a standards-driven school health program and system for accreditation of schools in India, developed by Non Communicable Diseases Prevention Academy (NCDPA),a subspeciality chapter of Indian Acdemy of Pediatrics (IAP) the statement of 10 commandments of which was unanimously endorsed by Executive Board of IAP in its meeting dated 19-20 March 2022, with the conviction that it will be helpful to provide quality education and to ensure the safety and well being of each child exposed to the school environment, and the board envisaged that the proposal document of NCDPA may become a role model in the formation of standards norms for “Child Friendly School” initiative. The commandments, an abridged version of which is listed below, lay high focus on cultivation of healthy lifestyle early in life, and prevention of non-communicable diseases over the life span, especially those originating in childhood and adolescence.

TEN POINTS FOR IAP-NCDPA-HPS ACCREDITATION OF SCHOOLS IN INDIA
1. Healthy Lifestyle awareness targeted at primary prevention of behavioral risk factors skills every 3 months.
2. Annual BMI recording,serial tracking & referral if required.
3. PA daily 30-45 minutes, in 2 min. break between classes.
4. Traffic Light System based availability of foods in canteen.
5. Food never be a part of any reward/punishment.
6. Weight of school bag <1/10th of wt of child.
7. Peer group-based School Squad.
8. At least 1 teacher trained & certified BLS provider.
9. At least 1 teacher trained in screening LDs, 1 Counsellor. A safe and secure environment for all students

• Conduct of age-appropriate activities every 3 months, aimed at building among all students, awareness and skills related with Primary Prevention of Diseases (esp.Healthy Lifestyle, Hygiene& Sanitation).
• General health check up including assessment of vaccination status & annual BMI recording,tracked serially.Any deviation from normal be reported to health care provider
• Daily 30-45 minutes session of age-appropriate physical activity after adequate warm-up exercises. Between all successive periods a short, ~2 minute break,for few stretch exercises/ moderate-vigorous physical activity.
• Full compliance of Traffic Light based availability of foods in the canteen. Unhealthy food should be strictly prohibited from distribution in any event in the school,including sponsored events.
• Food should never be a part of any reward or punishment.
• The weight of school bag should be less than 1/10th of the weight of child with lowest body weight in that class.
• A peer group based 'School Squad’ should be engaged in ongoing surveillance for prevention, early detection,reporting and management of students getting into substance abuse,mental harassment/bully/depression.
• On each working day, availability of at least one Teaching staff trained and certified as a Basic Life Support (BLS) provider.
• Availability of least one teacher trained and certified in screening children for Learning Disabilities.
• A safe and secure environment for all students, including: (I) strict compliance with fire safety norms and national building safety norms. (ii) GPS and CCTV in school buses. (Iii) Installation of CCTV in school premises covering all sensitive areas. The footage of the CCTV must be preserved for 60 days. (iv) Compliance with all the directions of Hon. Supreme Court of India& Government of India, in respect of school buses, as well as responsibilities of parents in respect thereof, must be strictly enforced.

A graduate and post graduate from KGMC Lucknow with a brilliant academic career, served in various teaching cadres at GMC Jammu for 36 years, developed the dept. to a 420 bedded dept. with 3 NICUs,1 PICU ,Hemophilia Day care Centre, Thalassemia Day care center, DEIC,NRC and was instrumental in bringing down the mortality rates drastically. Represented state in Indian Academy of Pediatrics as EB Member, rose to become VICE PRESIDENT IAP NZ 2019,recd Fellowship of IAP 2013,remained Chairperson of TF Prevention of childhood Obesity then NCDs 2015-17 & 2017-19, Nominated to FSSAI Expert Group for laying guidelines for National School Canteen Guidelines in PIL filed by Uday Pai Foundation seeking ban in and around schools 2013, Nominated to FSSAI Expert Group for laying guidelines for Front Of Pack Labelling Nominated Expert from India-Technical Advisory Group Non Communicable Disorders Asia Pacific Pediatric Association 2020,Recd Women Achievers Award twice-Rotary International J& k,Beti bachao Beti Padhao J&K Govt.