The government launched a programme to screen seventh grade students for health problems.
The programme – the first of its kind in the Maldives – began yesterday at the Iskandhar School in Malé.
At a ceremony held at the president’s office, the health ministry and education ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct the programme in schools across the country.
The government says the programme will help identify health issues among adolescents and offer treatment for undiagnosed illnesses. The education ministry aims to screen all 5,656 seventh grade students in the Maldives before the end of the year.
The students will be screened for problems with skin, hair eyesight, spine, teeth, throat, respiration, blood circulation and blood pressure as well as diabetes and psychological issues.
Blood tests will also be conducted for haemoglobin levels, blood group, and thalassemia.
