The Gujarat government has launched a special health check-up campaign for school children. As part of the Shala Arogya-National Child Health Program (SHRBSK), the government will issue digital health cards to monitor the cognitive development and nutrition level of over 1 crore school children across the state. The program covers children from newborns up to 18 years of age, including those in Anganwadi centres, primary schools, secondary/higher secondary schools, and school dropouts.
The health check-ups will be conducted by 992 mobile health teams, each consisting of doctors, pharmacists, and health workers. The teams will diagnose various ailments including anaemia, malnutrition, skin diseases, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other illnesses. Children diagnosed with ailments during the campaign will receive free treatment at government health institutions, ranging from Primary Health Centres to super specialty hospitals.
The launch of this comprehensive health check-up campaign took place on June 12, 2023, coinciding with the 20th Shala Praveshotsav (School Enrolment Drive). The campaign will continue for the next 30 days to ensure the well-being of school children in Gujarat. SHRBSK is a joint initiative between the central and state governments, making Gujarat the first and only state in the country to implement such a system.
