1. Health promoting schools in
Eastern Europe and Central
Asia
Goof Buijs, g.buijs@cbo.nl

2. SHE secretariat at CBO
• Acting as WHO Collaborating Centre for
School health promotion
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3. SHE Network – Who are we?
• 43 member countries: EU and EECA
• National coordinators and SHE Research Group
• Since 1992
• Support: WHO Euro, Council of Europe and EC
• Focus: making SHP an integral part of policy
development in education and health sector in
member countries and EU

5. 13 Eastern Europe and Central Asia
member countries
• Albania
• Armenia
• Croatia
• Georgia
• Kazachstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• FYR Macedonia
• Moldova
• Russian Federation
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistand
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6. Definition HPS
• A health promoting school pays attention in
a structured and systematic way to the
health and well-being of pupils and of
school-staff as part of the school plan

7. Introducing HPS in EECA
• Timing: coincides with independence
• Recognition HPS concepts (Greece 1997)
• Serious health and well-being issues children
and adolescents
• Entry point for school improvement and
educational reform
• Many schools in bad condition
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8. Welcome to health promoting school in Bishkek
(Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia)
29 April 2013
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9. Support SHE in EECA countries
• Annual capacity building workshop for SHE
coordinators
• Country visits for strategic development
• Translation key documents into Russian
• National HPS workshops and training
• Exchange among EECA coordinators
• Financial support
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10. Issues in EECA countries
• Recognition of specific needs for HPS
development
• Need for sustainable national programmes
• Better links with (inter)national funders
• Developing partnerships
• Securing involvement in national programmes
from Ministry of Education
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11. Health promoting school in Armenia
Lernagog, Armavir region, May 2013
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12. Future plans
• Continuation technical support
• Focus on reducing inequalities in health
• Focus on sustainability of HPS programme
• Programmes on relevant health issues
(healthy eating+ physical activity, mental
health, hygiene, sexual health)
• Linking HPS with community development
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