Gaining health : analysis of policy development in European ...

Chapter 4
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an important effect on the early diagnosis of disease and
the avoidance of possible problems among pupils, particularly
in relation to participation in physical activity. Medical
associations and research teams from the medical schools
carry out health education activities on an ad hoc basis.
Greece joined the ENHPS at an early stage, largely owing
to the initiative of interested national experts in the
Institute of Child Health. From 1 school in 1992, when the
project started, the network quickly grew to 26 in 1994 and
to around 40 schools by 1997.
A conference of the ENHPS was organized in Salonica in
1997, at which the Greek Ministers for Health and for Education
played an active role. Partly owing to the prominence
of this international event, the concept of health promotion
in the school setting gained in political stature in Greece,
with many more actors interested in joining the movement.
As a result, the original idea of gradually increasing
the network of “health-promoting schools” lost importance
while that of introducing the health promotion concept into
all schools took its place.
The Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs, together
with the National Youth Foundation (established in
1947 under the supervision of the Ministry) and a number
of NGOs have implemented health promotion programmes
in selected schools, including health education, counselling,
and campaigns to reduce accidents and to improve nutrition
(34). The original ENHPS team has collaborated closely
with the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs
in providing training for teachers and other interested people.
Other institutions with an interest in health promotion,
such as teacher training academies, the National School of
Public Health, the medical schools and a number of NGOs,
have also provided training to the educational sector.
In 1996, the position of Regional Health Education Officer
was established to support health promotion in secondary
schools, and in 2000 was extended to the primary school
level. By 2000, there were about 160 officers in place, their
main aims being to organize seminars and workshops to
train teachers, to encourage and motivate them to introduce
health education programmes and to support them
in applying for funding. The National Youth Foundation has
funded the development of training guides for health promotion,
while the Paedagogical Institute has added chapters
on specific health issues in school books.
Health education is not, however, part of the regular school
curriculum, either in primary or in secondary education.
It was introduced as an elective subject to be taught after
normal school hours, or in the case of primary schools in
the 2–3 hours per week designated for elective subjects.
Only in the higher technical schools is it included in the curriculum,
but those teaching it do not have regular posts.
The availability of EU funding has perhaps been conducive
to increasing interest. For example, in the EU framework for
the academic year 2006/2007, the National Foundation for
Youth announced the funding of 182 programmes on health
education in schools.
The MHSS has recently been active in the school setting,
limiting the type of food to be supplied in school canteens.
Although the guidelines are clear and rather strict, it is not
sure how far they can be implemented if the privately run
canteens have difficulty in making a profit from the restricted
list of products. Already, minor adjustments have been
made in recognition of children’s preferences for certain
products that are not considered harmful in small quantities,
and an attempt is being made to explain the measures to
food producers, parents and pupils’ associations (35). The
working group that prepared the guidelines is to assess how
they have been accepted by children and canteen owners.
Obesity and healthy nutrition will therefore remain on the
school health agenda for the immediate future.
Case studies: policy development in countries for tackling noncommunicable diseases