On the occasion of the second edition of National School Health Day, held Tuesday in Algiers, public authorities reviewed the primary measures launched to strengthen healthcare coverage for students. Encompassing screening, prevention, personnel training, nutrition, and intersectoral coordination, authorities aim to give a new dimension to school healthcare through the upcoming framework, better addressing the needs of children and adolescents while enhancing disease prevention and risk-factor mitigation.
Minister of Health Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène announced during the event that “the Strategic Multisectoral National Plan for Prevention and Health Promotion in School Environments has reached its final stage.” Emphasizing that “establishing National School Health Day reflects a deep conviction: child and student health represents a national priority and a collective responsibility,” he called for transforming schools into “health-promoting environments” where prevention and the adoption of healthy behaviors hold a central place.
For Aït Messaoudène, the objective extends beyond mere screening and medical monitoring. Stating that “our ambition goes beyond developing school health services to build a health-promoting school,” he highlighted the importance of better safeguarding children and adolescents against diseases and risk factors, particularly non-communicable conditions.
The minister indicated that the upcoming plan should serve as a reference framework for various stakeholders. It will constitute “a benchmark for joint action,” helping “define priorities, clarify roles and responsibilities,” and translate national guidelines into concrete programs and measures equipped with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Its formulation was preceded by consultative meetings across various provinces. This approach allowed officials to “assess the reality of school health directly on the ground,” evaluate existing programs alongside their execution levels, and “identify shortcomings and obstacles” encountered by field actors.
These consultations involved the education, youth, interior, local authorities, and transport sectors. The minister considers this intersectoral approach essential to “building a healthy, safe school environment.”
This drive to strengthen coordination is also reflected in the establishment of a national commission of school health experts. This scientific and technical body is tasked with offering expertise and contributing to program and procedure development. Additionally, a national multisectoral commission for school health promotion serves as “a platform for consultation and coordination” among the various ministries concerned.
Over 2,000 Screening Units
Enhancing professional skills ranks among the top priorities highlighted by the ministry. Training sessions have been conducted for physicians, dental surgeons, and psychologists active in school healthcare. The goal is to “strengthen their professional capacities and update their expertise” to better match the evolving health requirements of children and adolescents.
Algeria already possesses a significant network of specialized school health infrastructure and personnel. Speaking at the event, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Algeria Eva Milas noted that the country counts “over 2,000 screening and monitoring units” alongside “more than 7,000 school health professionals.”
She also underscored the vital role of the sector-specific school health commission, which she described as “a joint operational framework.” UNICEF, partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO), supports this process in tandem with national authorities, specifically across data collection, capacity building, disease prevention, and healthy nutrition, with active civil society involvement.
For his part, WHO Representative to Algeria Dr. Phanuel Habimana highlighted “the attention dedicated by Algerian health authorities to school health,” as well as the collaborative momentum spanning health, education, youth, child protection, and local governance sectors.
The health ministry is also addressing organizational frameworks. A draft interministerial decree has been formulated to define technical standards for human resources, furnishings, and equipment within screening and monitoring units.
According to Aït Messaoudène’s department, the objective is to “standardize technical norms, improve working conditions, and guarantee the requisite resources” to deliver high-quality medical services to students.