Deputy Speaker, the ANC welcomes the recent joint initiative between the Departments of Basic Education, Health, and Social Development to deliver a comprehensive programme of on-site health education and service to primary and secondary schools. The ANC has long recognised and ensured that education and health are key priorities and, as such, it is committed to improving our public health and education systems.
The comprehensive service offered by this joint initiative consists of health screening, on-site service provision, health education and referral to local health clinics for assessment and treatment, and the service will be rolled out to all learners over the next five years. The government's National Health Insurance focuses on the prevention and promotion of health care services in an affordable and equitable manner for all South Africans.
The National Health Insurance will ensure quality health care through, amongst other things, major improvements in infrastructure; ensuring compliance with basic standards of health care management; the centralisation of national health care insurance in primary health care; the re-engineering of school health services which includes the expansion and strengthening of school health services; and, district clinics in specialities. The initiative will be known as the Integrated School Health Programme. Thank you.