SOCHIESE and SOCHIPE Sign Alliance to Promote School Health in Chile

In the context of the 63rd Chilean Pediatrics Congress, organized by the Chilean Society of Pediatrics (SOCHIPE), held in Concepción between November 26 and 29, the association between SOCHIPE's Social Pediatrics Committee and the Chilean Society of School Health Nursing (SOCHIESE) was announced. Both entities signed an alliance to promote healthy living in the country's educational establishments, with the goal of reducing sedentary behaviors and fostering healthy habits through physical activity and health education.

Driving a New School Health Culture

The alliance between SOCHIESE and SOCHIPE seeks, among other things, to ensure that all students in Chile practice at least one hour of daily physical activity in their schools. This urgent measure aims to improve the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, addressing an issue that gains relevance in light of growing childhood health challenges.

The Relevance of School Nursing

One of the fundamental pillars of this alliance is the active incorporation of nurses within educational communities. The current president of the Chilean Society of School Health Nursing (SOCHIESE), Nuri Sadá, highlighted the importance of having health professionals within schools to lead comprehensive school health programs that not only promote physical well-being, but also help detect possible health problems in time.

Nuri Sadá stated: ..."it is important to incorporate nurses within schools to lead comprehensive school health programs that look after students' well-being and allow the timely screening of health problems".

She also commented that, ideally, schools — especially in rural or less favored areas — should have school nurses who can manage healthy environments and coordinate prevention actions; this model, already successfully implemented in other countries, improves students' quality of life by ensuring they receive timely care and support.

A Strategic Collaboration

The alliance between both scientific societies not only aims at implementing physical activities within the school curriculum, but also at the continuous training of teachers and health professionals through training sessions and advisory workshops. In addition, pilot programs will be designed at the communal level, which will make it possible to evaluate the impact of these initiatives on schoolchildren's well-being.

"We are convinced that, working together, we can promote equitable access to school health services and contribute to the development of more effective public policy for our children and adolescents"

This joint work is essential to reduce gaps in access to school health services, allowing all children and adolescents, regardless of their social context, to access the benefits of a healthy educational environment".

A Comprehensive Approach for the Future

The collaboration between SOCHIESE and SOCHIPE is a response to the urgent need to address the health challenges affecting children and adolescents in Chile. With the active participation of school nurses and the promotion of physical well-being, this alliance is expected to contribute to improving the course of school health in Chile.

The Chilean Society of Pediatrics, through its Social Pediatrics Committee, reiterates the importance of acting quickly to prevent children and adolescents from becoming adults with serious health problems. For their part, the scientific societies are committed to continuing to drive this type of initiative with the support of the country's educational and health authorities.

Next Steps and Commitments

The next steps in this alliance include the development of publications and the implementation of pilot projects to be carried out in several communes of the country. The goal is to put these school health models into practice effectively, contributing to the physical and mental well-being of students, and setting a new standard for the comprehensive well-being of Chilean childhood and adolescence.