The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in February handed over seven newly acquired Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) vehicles as part of efforts to improve the provision of comprehensive health services. 
The Department said the initiative was also in a bid to support learning through identifying and addressing health barriers that may affect learners in schools.
The ISHP focuses on screening for barriers to effective learning and teaching such as vision, hearing, oral hygiene, physical and mental health.
“These vehicles are going to address the poor coverage of health programmes targeting the school community. Our School Health Teams will now be easily accessible and mobile to provide regular health screening and edutainment which includes health education and health promotion through fun and games,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The vehicles are allocated to the five district health services in accordance with the current need per district. While the Johannesburg and Sedibeng districts each received two vehicles, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and West Rand each received one vehicles.
The Gauteng Department of Health said it aims to increase the number of the ISHP vehicles across the districts to 27 by adding an additional 20 to the seven in the next financial years depending on budget availability.
In addition, the MEC also took the time to oversee school health nurses administering the single dose Human Papillomavirus vaccine on Grade 5 girls aged nine and above, to protect them against cervical cancer later in life.
The HPV vaccination campaign started in all Public Primary Schools and Special Schools on 5 February 2024 and will end on 20 March 2024.
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