Comprehensive Guide to Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI) and Health Is Kwela!

Introduction to Healthy Learning Institutions: Health Is Kwela!

This guide serves as a comprehensive study reference for the "Healthy Learning Institutions" (HLI) program, specifically the "Health Is Kwela!" initiative. It covers the philosophical foundations, organizational structures, and practical frameworks governing the health and education sectors in the Philippines.

Organizational Vision and Mission of the Department of Education (DepEd)

The HLI program is deeply rooted in the core identity and goals of the Department of Education.

DepEd Vision

"We dream of Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation. As a learner-centered public institution, the Department of Education continuously improves itself to better serve its stakeholders."

DepEd Mission

"To protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education where:

  • Students learn in a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment.
  • Teachers facilitate learning and constantly nurture every learner.
  • Administrators and staff, as stewards of the institution, ensure an enabling and supportive environment for effective learning to happen.
  • Family, community, and other stakeholders are actively engaged and share responsibility for developing life-long learners."

Defining Health and Its Determinants

To understand the necessity of Healthy Learning Institutions, one must first define health and identify the factors that drive health outcomes.

Definition of Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The 80/2080/20 Rule of Health Outcomes

Research indicates that medical care is not the sole or even primary factor in determining health achievements:

  • Medical care only accounts for 20%20\% of health outcomes.
  • Social determinants of health account for the remaining 80%80\%.

Health Promotion: The People and Places Framework

Health promotion involves moving beyond individual behaviors to address environments. The framework incorporates four levels:

  1. Individual Level: Involves knowledge, beliefs or attitudes, and skills.
  2. Inter-personal Level: Influences from family, friends, and neighbors.
  3. Community Level: Influences from norms, traditions, and culture.
  4. Institutional Level: Includes laws, policies, enforcement, resources (products and services), and media.

This framework posits that Healthy People and Healthy Places lead to Healthy Behaviors in the Community.

The Seven Priority Areas of Health Promotion

The National Health Promotion Framework Strategy identifies seven core areas for intervention:

  1. Diet and Physical Activity: "Move More, Eat Right."
  2. Environmental Health: "Be Clean, Live Sustainably."
  3. Immunization: "Get Vaccinated."
  4. Substance Use: "Don’t Smoke, Lessen Alcohol, Say No to Drugs."
  5. Mental Health: "Care for Yourself, Care for Others."
  6. Sexual and Reproductive Health: "Practice Safe Sex."
  7. Violence & Injury Prevention: "Do No Harm, Put Safety First."

The Interdependence of Education and Health

There is a bi-directional relationship between academic success and physical/mental well-being. Learners typically spend 4+4+ face-to-face hours in school every day, making the school a critical environment.

How Education Affects Health

  • Information: Literacy and schooling provide the knowledge needed to make healthy choices.
  • Infrastructure: School environments provide physical safety and access to health resources.
  • Economic Outcomes: Higher education leads to higher earnings, which correlates directly with better health access and outcomes.

How Health Affects Education

  • Sickness: Leads to increased absences and lost learning time.
  • Behaviors: Alcohol use and smoking are linked to poorer grades.
  • Physical Conditions: Obesity and malnutrition are linked to lower test scores.

Core Philosophy: Better Education = Better Health; Better Health = Better Education.

Understanding Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI)

HLI Definition

Healthy Learning Institutions are learning institutions that foster the health and well-being of their learners and personnel and constantly strengthen their capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning, and working.

HLI Program Goals

A multi-sectoral program that aims to:

  • Develop standards for healthy learning institutions.
  • Provide technical or financial support for the integration of school health initiatives.
  • Foster the health and well-being of learners and personnel.

The Six Pillars of Health-Promoting Schools

HLI standards are categorized into six essential pillars, each with specific components and examples:

  1. Pillar 1: Healthy School Policy

    • Description: Policies or plans for health promotion are present, adequately funded, and implemented.
    • Example: Implementation of "Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and DepEd Offices."

  2. Pillar 2: Physical School Environment

    • Description: The environment is safe, secure, healthy, and inclusive before, during, and after school hours.
    • Example: Providing an adequate and functional water supply within the school.

  3. Pillar 3: Social School Environment

    • Description: Ensures the quality of relationships among staff and students promotes well-being.
    • Example: Presence of counseling services and mental health activities.

  4. Pillar 4: Health Skills and Education

    • Description: Health is integrated into the curriculum, and teachers are trained for health promotion roles.
    • Example: Activities that build health skills (e.g., handwashing drills, disaster drills).

  5. Pillar 5: Link with Parents and Community

    • Description: Collaboration with parents and local stakeholders for mutual benefit.
    • Example: Consultation with local government on the school Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Plan.

  6. Pillar 6: Access to Health Services

    • Description: Basic and emergency health services are available, and referral systems (internal and external) are functional.
    • Example: School clinics with adequate supplies and staff complement.

Convergence: Oplan Kalusugan (OK) sa DepEd and HLI

The HLI program builds on, rather than replaces, the existing framework of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OKD) (DepEd DO No. 028, s. 2018).

The Six Flagship Programs of OK sa DepEd

  1. School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP).
  2. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS).
  3. National Drug Education Program (Barkada Kontra Droga).
  4. Comprehensive Sexuality Education-Adolescent Reproductive Health Program.
  5. School Mental Health Program.
  6. Medical, Dental, and Nursing Services.

The Integrated Framework

The HLI framework integrates these flagship programs with the 7 Priority Areas of Health Promotion and the 4 Pillars of the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP):

  • Access
  • Equity
  • Quality
  • Resilience & Well-being

Legal Basis and Policy Timeline

The evolution of school health in the Philippines is marked by key legislative and administrative milestones:

  • Prior to 2018: Independent school health and nutrition programs were implemented separately through various issuances.
  • 2018 (DepEd DO No. 28): Launch of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd, the umbrella brand for program convergence.
  • 2018 (Republic Act 11223): The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act was passed. Section 30 specifically designates DepEd schools as "healthy settings" and mandates the integration of health literacy into curricula.
  • 2022 (Joint Administrative Order - JAO): Formalizes the partnership between DOH, DepEd, CHED, TESDA, LEB, DSWD, and DILG to develop HLI standards.
  • 2022 (Health Is Kwela Pilot): Pilot program providing technical and financial assistance to last-mile elementary schools in UHC-IS provinces/cities.

Governance and Stakeholders

National Technical Working Group (NTWG-HLI)

  • Chair: Department of Health (DOH).
  • Co-Chair: Department of Education (DepEd).
  • Members: DILG, TESDA, LEB, CHED, DSWD, ECCD Council, PSHS.

Sub-Technical Working Groups (Sub-TWGs)

Interventions are organized by life stages:

  • Early Childhood (ECCD Council participation).
  • Childhood and Adolescence.
  • Youth and Adulthood.

Local Involvement

Active participation is required from:

  • Local School Boards.
  • Local Health Boards.
  • Provincial Health Promotion Units.
  • Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDO).

Summary of Purpose

Schools are strategic settings for health promotion because Filipinos spend their formative years there. Through age-appropriate, integrated health programs, schools can improve health literacy and provide life skills. Ultimately, healthy students become more productive members of society, fulfilling the vision of a developed nation.