Sri Vijaya Puram: With adolescent health at the core of its mission, the Directorate of Health Services in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has scaled up the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), part of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, across all three districts. Focused on the health and development of teenagers, the program has now reached 121 government schools.
At the heart of the RKSK rollout is the School Health & Wellness Program (SHWP), which trains selected students as Health and Wellness Messengers. These peer educators are tasked with spreading awareness on hygiene, nutrition, mental health, and healthy lifestyle practices within their school communities.
So far, 1,125 students have been trained and equipped to function as youth advocates for better health. This collaborative initiative between the Directorate of Health Services and the Department of Education is being implemented across middle, secondary, and senior secondary schools.
An interdepartmental meeting chaired by the Secretary (Health) on April 17 reviewed progress and planned further strategies. During the event, the Secretary, along with the Director of Health Services, presented customized T-shirts to the trained Health and Wellness Messengers to recognize their contribution and boost morale. Also in attendance were key health and education officials including Deputy Directors, Program Coordinators, and Joint Secretaries.
This student-driven outreach complements government efforts to strengthen the preventive and promotive aspects of adolescent health. By engaging young people in peer-based education, the administration aims to embed healthy habits early on.
