The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the the importance of promoting and ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of learners in the preparation for a safe return to classes.

“We must provide all learners and DepEd personnel with maximized opportunities to holistic school health and nutrition services, especially the provision of basic medical, dental, and nursing care, through the leadership of our health personnel in close collaboration with partners and stakeholders at the school level,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a statement issued Wednesday, Sept. 29.

To further promote the importance of health and safety of learners especially amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country, DepEd conducted the “One Health Week” before the school opening.

The “One Health Week” highlighted “Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd” or “OK sa DepEd” milestones as well as other initiatives to support the welfare of learners.

With theme “Bayanihan para sa Kalusugan, OK sa DepEd sa Paaralan, at sa Tahanan,” the week-long celebration from Sept. 6 to 11 emphasized how partnerships for school health are essential to support the new school year which will remain under the “new normal” setup.

Spearheaded by the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division (BLSS-SHD), key updates and initiatives were unveiled in support of the six flagship programs under “OK sa DepEd” which is an initiative launched in 2018 to facilitate the convergence of these programs for their effective implementation especially at the school level.

Among these, BLSS Director Lope Santos III shared, include the opening of 1,869 school and medical clinics in select central elementary schools nationwide as part of DepEd’s Medical, Dental, and Nursing Services.

Under the School-Based Feeding Program, DepEd is also targeting to reach 3.5 million learners which include Kindergarten learners and undernourished learners from Grades 1 to 6.

Santos added that virtual activities were also conducted at the central, regional, at division offices to showcase DepEd’s readiness implement its programs under “OK sa DepEd” such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene or WASH in Schools (WinS), School Mental Health, Adolescent Reproductive Health, and National Drug Education Program.

“One Health Week” also featured the launch of the WinS Program’s Seal of Excellence Award 2021 to recognize schools that have met global standards and maintained crucial indicators in the implementation of the program for at least three consecutive years.

Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua also emphasized the importance to promote and ensure health, safety, and well-being of students as part of DepEd’s preparation for a safe return to classes.

“Naglabas tayo ng mga patakaran, iba’t ibang memo dahil kinakailangan nating ayusin palagi yan hindi lamang nung simula kung hindi buwan buwan, oras oras ay may pagbabago dahil may nagbabago rin ang ating pandemiya yung hugis ng pandemiya (We have issued policies, various memos because we have to update that regularly - not only at the beginning but month after month, hour by hour - because the shape of the pandemic is also changing,” he said.

The activities were hosted by DepEd TV Teacher-Broadcasters and Vacc2School Champions to highlight how school health programs complement curriculum and instruction.