Rs 48.87 crore plan for first aid in Delhi schools: Sood

When a child falls sick or gets hurt in a Government school in Delhi, the first few minutes often pass without a proper place or person to turn to. The Delhi Government now wants to change that.

Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Sunday that the Delhi Government will set up first-aid medical facilities in all 1,086 Government schools under the Directorate of Education at an estimated annual cost of Rs 48.87 crore.

The proposed facilities will provide first aid during school hours, with a trained health worker, such as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) or a multipurpose health worker, deployed at each school, according to an official statement.

The medical rooms will provide basic care, including wound dressing, administration of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and supervised rest. They will not offer diagnostic services or prescribe medicines, the statement said. The initiative aims to address minor injuries, sudden illness, fatigue, dizziness, and other temporary discomforts among students during school hours.

The rollout will be implemented in phases, beginning with schools that have separate rooms for the facilities, followed by those where alternative rooms or porta cabins will be set up, it said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the dedicated ‘School Medical Rooms’ will provide students with immediate first aid, temporary rest, basic health support, age-appropriate health guidance and counselling. For female students, the medical rooms will also provide a safe and private space during menstrual discomfort. The facilities will also provide a private space for girl students to address menstrual health needs, according to the statement.

The proposal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisages safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments.

“Every child in our Government schools deserves a safe and caring environment. When a student falls sick or gets hurt during school hours, parents and teachers should have peace of mind knowing that immediate first aid and proper care are readily available right inside the school campus,” Sood said.

He said the initiative would ensure students have access to immediate basic medical assistance on school premises.