As part of the 2025 Brigada Eskwela kickoff, schools across the country received essential medical supplies and health services, with just a week to go before classes resume. The Department of Health (DOH) honored 83 schools as “health champions,” providing them with Bawat Bata Malusog (Every Child Healthy) kits containing blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, first aid items, and other clinic essentials.
Last Mile Schools—typically in remote areas—also received tailored kits with teacher wellness items and sports equipment, promoting both self-care and physical activity in school communities. Emergency response kits were also distributed to improve disaster preparedness.
DOH Leads Onsite Services and Awareness Campaigns
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa led the official turnover of health kits at Bacacay East Central School in Albay. Four schools—Jamorawon National High School, San Juan Integrated School, Rinconada National Technical Vocational School, and Fulgueras Elementary School—were among the first recipients.
“Our support for school health is an investment in healthier future generations,” Herbosa said. “It’s not just about preparing school buildings, but also ensuring the well-being of teachers and staff who guide our children,” he added.
The event also featured free medical services, including consultations, lab tests, vaccinations, HIV screening, mental health support, and family planning. Health literacy sessions focused on nutrition, environmental health, substance abuse prevention, and injury prevention.
Part of a Long-Term Push for Healthy Learning
These efforts fall under the DOH’s Healthy Learning Institutions program, launched in 2022 to support the Universal Health Care Law. The initiative treats schools as critical platforms for health promotion and has already reached over 1,400 schools in 55 provinces and cities.
As Brigada Eskwela continues to rally communities to prepare schools for the new academic year, the DOH’s involvement signals a broader goal: ensuring that students and educators alike return to safe, healthy learning environments.
