1. Reducing health inequalities:
experiences with health
promoting schools in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia

2. 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 HPS an integral part of policy
development in education and health sector

4. 13 Eastern Europe and Central Asia
member countries
• Albania
• Armenia
• Croatia
• Georgia
• Kazachstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• FYR Macedonia
• Moldova
• Russian Federation
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

5. Definition Health Promoting
School (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

6. Introducing HPS in EECA
• Inequalities among EU and EECA countries
• Introduction HPS came at right time
• Recognition HPS concepts (democracy,
empowerment, equity)
• Serious health and well-being issues
• Need school improvement & educational
reform
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7. Welcome to health promoting
school in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, Central
Asia)
April 2013
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8. Issues in EECA countries
• HPS development within country context
• Low priority to education in national budgets
• links with (inter)national partners and funders
• Securing involvement in national programmes
from Min of Education and Min of Health
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9. Health promoting school in Armenia
May 2013
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10. Armenia experiences
• 5 renovated schools in deprived area
• Health entry point for innovation
• 2 workhops with teachers, students, parents
• School taking leadership in community
• Making use of human resources
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11. Conclusion and next steps
• 30 years experience intersectoral
collaboration
• HPS help reducing inequalities in health
• Linking HPS with community development
• Sustainable funding for programme
development, research, implementation
• Linking better school health services with HPS
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12. SHE website:
www.schoolsforhealth.eu
g.buijs@cbo.nl
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