Health Department of Pará intensifies support for the 'Health in School Program' in Marajó
In the 2025/2026 cycle, all municipalities in Pará joined the initiative
The State Department of Public Health of Pará (Sespa) has expanded guidance to municipalities on the importance and objectives of the Health in School Program (PSE). Created 18 years ago as an intersectoral public policy, the PSE aims to promote health, prevent harm, and strengthen the comprehensive education of children, adolescents, youth, and adults in the school environment. In the 2025/2026 cycle, all municipalities in Pará have joined the initiative, demonstrating commitment to the educational and social development of the population.
In the Marajó region, the 7th Regional Health Center (CRS) holds periodic meetings with municipal coordinators to align action strategies. Among the program's priority areas, healthy eating stands out as essential to combat malnutrition, overweight, and obesity among students.
According to nutritionist Iane Guimarães, technical responsible for the PSE at the 7th CRS, the guidance space also allows for the exchange of experiences, monitoring of actions, and technical support for data registration in the Basic Care Information System. “Thus, we create a learning environment that encourages health education in municipalities and prepares teams to implement the PSE in all agreed schools,” she explained.
Initiative - An example of this work occurred in the municipality of Chaves, which promoted the “D Day of Healthy Eating” last Friday (29). The action involved more than 100 municipal schools, directly impacting about 7,000 students in basic education.
The program included lectures, workshops, discussion circles, and playful activities aimed at promoting healthy eating habits. The initiative was the result of the Municipal Health Department (Semsa), Municipal Education Department (Semed), and partnership with Sespa, with the participation of professionals from the Family Health Strategy (ESF), community health agents, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nursing technicians, teachers, school managers, and other public servants.
The municipal coordinator of the PSE in the Health area, dentist Alexa Rabelo, emphasized the network's commitment to making the action feasible. “Despite the difficulties of access and the large number of schools, D Day was a success thanks to the dedication of each server and the school community,” she stated.
For Denise Ferreira, municipal coordinator of the PSE in the Education area, the initiative represents more than a one-time action: “The PSE plays a fundamental role, as it integrates health and education, promotes disease prevention, and contributes to the comprehensive development of students.”
Nutritionist Iane Guimarães highlighted the relevance of the mobilization in Chaves: “The seed planted today (Wednesday, 29) can yield important fruits, improving the quality of life of students and their families and directly reflecting on health indicators.”
Text by Suellen Santos / Ascom Sespa
