School Health Care and Nutrition in Primary Schools in SEA: Policies, Programs, and Good Practices

The focus of school health care and nutrition (SHCN) in recent decades has shifted away from preventing diseases and towards promoting and protecting the health and well-being of all pupils, particularly those who are poor and vulnerable. As a result, SHCN programs have successfully led not only to improved student health and performance but also to increased chances for disadvantaged children to attend and finish school.

Given this well-established link between student performance and their health and nutrition, countries in Southeast Asia have been working with non-government, government, and international organizations to develop, fund, implement, and monitor school-based health and nutrition programs. Many of these school health initiatives target grade school students, as the primary school system has been the main channel for delivering basic health and nutrition services to children.