Karnataka launches statewide health checkups for school children in Hassan and addresses vaccination concerns amid political debate.
Why are school health checkups important in Karnataka today
Reflecting Karnataka’s growing focus on preventive healthcare, Minister N. Rajanna has ordered health check-ups for all school children in Hassan district. This initiative, to be announced in early July 2025, will change the way children’s health is monitored at the grassroots level.
The main objective of these school health check-ups in Karnataka will be to detect early signs of disease, address malnutrition, and improve overall public health among school children.
What will the health check-up include?
Each student in Hassan’s government and private schools will undergo a comprehensive health assessment, including:
- Physical health check
- Vision and hearing tests
- Dental exam
- Nutritional assessment
- Review of immunization status
These child health checks will help ensure that common but often overlooked problems, such as vision problems or malnutrition, are identified and treated on time.
Regular check-ups will not only help monitor the health of our children but also reduce the burden of chronic diseases,” said Health Minister N. Rajanna.
Connecting the dots: Post-COVID concerns remain
The process of regular health checkups and vaccination of children was disrupted to a great extent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to an unbalanced diet, low physical activity, and increased risk of many health problems in children. To address these challenges, the government of Karnataka has launched the School Health Checkup Program 2025.
The initiative aims to conduct timely checkups of children in schools and strengthen health awareness and prevention thinking within the education system. Under this, health checkups will be conducted every year and consistent data will be prepared so that identification and treatment of diseases at an early stage are possible.
Siddaramaiah vs Piyush Goyal vaccine debate
The health check-up initiative has been widely appreciated, but vaccination policies have recently become a point of political tension in Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the central government’s approach, questioning the safety, efficacy, and pricing of COVID-19 vaccines. In response, Union Minister Piyush Goyal defended the center, saying the vaccines were distributed free of cost and all safety guidelines were followed.
The Siddaramaiah vs Piyush Goyal vaccine debate has once again brought the spotlight on public trust in vaccines.
Karnataka has taken the bold step of implementing compulsory sex education and mental health programs for students from Class 8 to 12.
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