A Case Report of Establishing a Regional School Health Committee in Benin

Abstract

In order to promote health activities at schools in a rural community, the reporter established “Regional School Health Committee” in Glazoué, the Republic of Benin. The committee consisted of several different institutions concerning school health, i.e., the school district office of Glazoué, the Glazoué health centre, the regional parent association, and 14 volunteer schools. As a result of its activities, the sanitary environment of these committee member schools dramatically improved, and increased focus has been placed on health education. However, in terms of dissemination of school health activities from the committee member schools to non-member schools, the effect of establishing the committee was limited. This case suggests that in the communities where school autonomy is high, publicly granting authority to the principals of the committee member schools and wide recognition of the committee itself are requisite for these principals to guide other schools as school health leaders. It may be also necessary to secure a minimum amount of funding for activities, such as transportation expenses for the volunteer school principals to visit non-member schools.