Evaluation of School Health Programme Implementation in Public Secondary Schools in Ogun State

The National School Health Programme provides a framework for health services, health education, and health environment management in Nigerian secondary schools, but its implementation quality and coverage in Ogun State has not been systematically evaluated. This study evaluated school health programme implementation in public secondary schools in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. An evaluation design was employed across 20 public secondary schools in Abeokuta North, Ijebu-Ode, and Sagamu LGAs. Data collection involved structured facility assessments, interviews with 20 school health teachers and four LGA school health coordinators, and health knowledge surveys administered to 400 students (20 per school). Programme implementation was assessed across four domains: health services provision, health education delivery, healthy school environment maintenance, and health records management. Results showed that school health services including basic first aid and sickle cell screening were available in 65 percent of schools. Structured health education lessons were delivered in 50 percent. Potable water access was present in only 40 percent. Health records were systematically maintained in 35 percent of schools. Student health knowledge scores were significantly higher in schools with active health education programmes (p < 0.001). Funding inadequacy and absence of trained school health nurses were the primary implementation gaps. The study recommends dedicated state budget allocation for school health services, training of school health teachers, and mandatory implementation benchmarks for public secondary schools in Ogun State. Keywords: school health programme, public secondary schools, Ogun State, health education, South West Nigeria