Rural, Tribal and Urban School Health Interventions
School Health Care Program
A comprehensive, no-cost healthcare program ensuring that government school children receive continuous preventive, promotive, and curative health services.
Why this Program Exists
For many children in government schools, healthcare remains unaffordable and inaccessible, especially when families are daily wage earners and awareness of health issues is limited.
Untreated illnesses and pre-existing conditions
Frequent absenteeism from school
Low energy and poor learning outcomes
Program Overview
SHP is designed to reduce health-related absenteeism through prevention, early identification, and treatment delivered through school-based outpatient systems.
Objective: To reduce health-related absenteeism through prevention, early identification, and treatment via school-based outpatient systems.
- “Not well, come to School” as a child-friendly care message.
- “50 paise per child per day” as a model for affordable, scalable healthcare.
- Complete healthcare coverage at no cost for government school children.
- Equitable, continuous, and dignified care ranging from common illnesses to complex surgeries.
What Makes SHP Unique
SHP brings together access, affordability, and continuity of care in a child-centered model designed for long-term public health impact.
Role of School Health Volunteers
Selected students are trained as peer educators who help build awareness, encourage healthy behaviors, and strengthen a culture of health within schools.
- Promote health awareness among fellow students.
- Encourage healthy behaviors and positive daily practices.
- Lead activities such as competitions, discussions, and peer engagement initiatives.
- This approach builds ownership, leadership, and health awareness among children.
Health Concerns Identified
Regular screenings highlight the most common health concerns affecting children and help enable early intervention before conditions worsen.
79%
Anaemia
72%
Malnutrition
62%
Dental issues
34%
Skin conditions
11%
Vision problems
4%
Hearing problems
<1%
Kidney & heart diseases
Endemic
Infectious diseases
Early detection enables timely treatment, follow-up, and prevention of complications.
Impact
SHP has delivered measurable outcomes in school health, treatment access, and long-term continuity of care for children across urban, rural, and tribal settings.
18+ lakh
Outpatient consultations delivered
949
Surgeries performed
84
Cardiac surgeries supported
53,000+
Children benefited in Hyderabad
Intervention Scale
Urban Intervention
- 21+ years of implementation
- 1,072 government schools covered
- 2,25,000 children reached
Rural Intervention
- 20 years of implementation
- 579 government schools covered
- 2,58,000 children reached
Tribal Intervention
- 20 years of implementation
- 220 government schools covered
- 80,000 children reached
Geographical Presence
The School Health Care Program began in 2003 in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and expanded in 2006 to Rajasthan, reflecting its adaptability across diverse geographies and school health systems.
- Initiated in Hyderabad in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
- Expanded to Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Bikaner.
- Currently implemented in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Continues within broader rural and tribal interventions in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Case Studies
Behind every intervention is a child, a family, and a future changed through timely care. Explore stories that reflect the reach, responsiveness, and life-changing impact of the School Health Care Program.
Recognition & Replicability
SHP has been recognized as a practical and scalable public health model that can be adapted across regions while maintaining its focus on child health and school continuity.
Included in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of India.
Documented and acknowledged as a case study in public health practice.
Recommended for replication by the International Labour Organization (ILO).