PESHAWAR, Dec 13: The NWFP government in collaboration with the World Health Organisation has started developing ‘school health curriculum’ to provide basic education on hygiene to primary school students.

According to officials, the health department has started training of trainers who would extend the skill to fellow workers.

Teachers and health workers have been trained in Peshawar while training in Mansehra is in progress.

The WHO started developing the curriculum as part of the school health service which is being launched in primary schools in Peshawar and Mansehra districts from early next year.

The officials said that the plan would subsequently be replicated in all primary schools across the province.

“Health teams will be visiting schools in both the districts and would deliver lectures to students regarding epidemics,” said Dr Saeed Akbar Khan, WHO’s operations medical officer for the NWFP and Fata.

Students, especially in girls primary schools, will be medically examined and given tips to safeguard them against epidemics.

He said that another curriculum was being developed that would protect students against psychiatric ailments.

Dr Khan said the global health agency had agreed to provide 10 first-aid boxes to schools.

The school health service was started in the province in mid 90s but was discontinued after the health department withdrew more than 200 doctors from schools.

The programme is being re-launched in the wake of requests by the NWFP health department to the WHO.

Health officials said that schoolchildren could be protected against several diseases which affected them every now and then.