Ministry of the Presidency coordinates expansion of the "School Health" program in 580 educational centers

Santo Domingo.- Under the coordination of the Ministry of the Presidency, the Dominican Government is advancing in the implementation of the "School Health" program, a preventive care model that integrates free medical services in public schools as part of the national strategy "School as a Center of Development".

The program, developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Health, the National Health Service (SNS), and the National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE), contemplates its progressive implementation during 2026 in 580 educational centers distributed across the 18 regional areas of the public system, with an expansion goal to 1,500 schools in its first phase. As part of this process, the institutions involved made a presentation of the model at the Nuestra Señora de la Fe school, in the La Fe extension of the National District, where the media were shown how the program works and the direct benefits received by students, teachers and communities. Through "School Health," students access preventive medical evaluations and specialized services in visual, auditory, oral health, and general care.

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In the visited educational center, identification sessions for visual and auditory problems were observed, as well as weight and height measurements, and the delivery of eyeglasses to students who required them. In addition, the staff of the Ministry of Public Health provided guidance on prevention and healthy lifestyles, while the SNS coordinated the referral and care at the nearest primary care center when necessary. To ensure effective articulation between the schools, the public health network, and families, the program has trained technical links that follow up on each case and ensure continuity of care. "School Health" is integrated into President Luis Abinader's vision of making the school the articulating axis of public policies in each territory. In his most recent accountability, the president reaffirmed that education cannot be limited to the transmission of knowledge, but must contribute to the integral formation of citizens and the strengthening of social cohesion. In that context, the "School as a Center of Development" strategy leverages school infrastructure and population to coordinate initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in communities, including components such as Open School, Road Education, Environmental Education, and the Opportunity 14-24 program. With this initiative, the Ministry of the Presidency reaffirms its role as a strategic articulator of priority public policies, bringing essential services closer to the student population and promoting a culture of prevention that positively impacts the integral development of children and adolescents.