As the morning bell rings at the government high school in Kundi, a village in Betul district, Sanjana walks into her classroom with purpose. At 17, she’s not only a dedicated student but also the “health and wellness messenger” for her peers, a role she takes seriously.

Today, she’s helping distribute the weekly iron and folic acid supplements — crucial for preventing anaemia, which affects nearly 60 percent of girls aged 15-19 in India and 58.1 percent in Madhya Pradesh, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2021). For Sanjana, it’s not just about handing out the IFA supplements. It’s about educating her classmates on how small, everyday choices can lead to better health. She’s committed to helping them understand anaemia and how proper nutrition can prevent it.

“Being a health and wellness messenger has given me a sense of responsibility towards other students,” Sanjana says. “If someone misses their supplement, I make sure they get it the next day.”

Sanjana took on this role through the Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Program, a health promotion initiative launched in 2020 by Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Education. The program is implemented in all government and government-supported schools in Madhya Pradesh. It takes a comprehensive approach to adolescent wellbeing, focusing on 11 key themes, including nutrition, health and sanitation, gender equality, prevention and management of substance use, mental health and emotional wellbeing.

In each school, two teachers — one male and one female — are designated as “health and wellness ambassadors” and receive training to deliver weekly sessions on key health topics that are engaging, age-appropriate, and culturally and gender sensitive. Two students from every class, like Sanjana, are chosen as health and wellness messengers. They help facilitate activities, encourage peers to attend sessions, organize thematic school assemblies, and promote the health and wellness question box, where students can anonymously ask questions.

In 2023, with the support of Comic Relief US, Nutrition International worked alongside the government of Madhya Pradesh to bolster this program in 20 schools across two districts. Nutrition International provided technical guidance, helped schools adhere to state guidelines, and conducted orientation sessions for health and wellness ambassadors and messengers to enhance their capacity to deliver quality nutrition and health education.

Yogendra Kumar, the Early Intervention Manager for Betul district, highlights the lasting impact of health and wellness education on students. “We are focusing on adolescents aged 10 to 19 — an impressionable stage in their lives,” he explains. “A lack of proper guidance during this time can lead to long-term consequences. We are trying to bridge this gap.”

Sanjana, herself, nearly missed out on this crucial information. In 7^th grade, she was forced to drop out of school due to her family’s financial situation. It was a difficult decision, both for her and her parents. While working on her father’s farm, she would often see her friends walk home from school and hear about what they were learning. Once an extroverted teenager, Sanjana became quiet and withdrawn.

Three years later, the vice-principal of the government high school in Betul visited her family and encouraged them to send Sanjana back to school. Though her parents were hesitant, concerned about how Sanjana would feel studying alongside younger students, the vice-principal was persistent. She invited the family to the school and worked to motivate Sanjana. Eventually, Sanjana agreed to return, and with that decision came a budding sense of optimism, as she looked forward to continuing her education.

Once back in the classroom, Sanjana found that far from shrinking from attention, she wanted to actively contribute. The school health and wellness program offered her the perfect opportunity. Discussing health and nutrition topics — from healthy diets to menstrual health — helped her develop leadership skills and engage with her peers.

“I realized many of my peers were hesitant to talk about menstruation,” she says, sharing an example. “The health and wellness sessions showed me there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Now I help my friends and try to clear up any confusion they have.”

Nutrition International worked with the schools to strengthen menstrual health interventions, including the installation of menstrual health-friendly toilets and resting areas, equipped with essentials like a cot, menstrual products, hot water bottles, a medicine kit, and informational materials. The program has also established wellness libraries, stocked with resources on health and wellbeing. During weekly training sessions, Sanjana and her fellow messengers use posters, videos and interactive games developed by the program to spark conversations about health and nutrition among their peers.

Looking back on her journey since returning to school, Sanjana takes pride in being a source of support for other students. “Today, I encourage my friends to ask questions, and if I can’t answer them, I take them to our teachers,” she says. “I believe that awareness and knowledge are crucial. I’m always eager to learn new things.”

Learn more about our work to support adolescent girls.  

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