Canary Islands Schools Need Nurses Now: Prioritizing Student Wellbeing
The right to education and the right to health are inextricably linked, and the Canary Islands are falling short of fulfilling both for its students. Despite a unanimous parliamentary mandate, the Government of the Canary Islands has yet to implement a extensive school nursing program, leaving over 250,000 students inadequately supported. Currently, only 22 nurses serve over 1,300 schools - a situation that places undue burden on teachers, creates anxiety for families, and jeopardizes the wellbeing of children with chronic conditions, allergies, or special needs.
School nursing isn’t a luxury; it’s essential decent care.It encompasses preventative care, health education, emergency response, chronic disease management, mental health support, and coordination with primary care providers – ensuring equal opportunities for all students, nonetheless of location.
Lanzarote has already proven this model works. Under the leadership of María Dolores Corujo, a successful pilot program was launched in Tías, Tinajo, and San Bartolomé, fully funded by the island council.This initiative, built on existing health-promoting strategies, demonstrated improved school climate, reduced risks, and fostered effective collaboration between educators and healthcare professionals.
The delay in wider implementation reflects a broader issue: when care isn’t prioritized, it’s relegated to the margins. The Canary Islands face challenges with dependency care, waiting lists, and a lack of support for educational assistants – all indicative of a system that relies on families and teachers to fill critical gaps. Care must be planned,provided,and evaluated,not improvised or outsourced.
Implementing the unanimously approved Non-Law Proposal (NLP) isn’t simply ticking a box; it’s upholding a essential right. Investing in school nursing is proactive – preventing crises, enabling early intervention for mental health, and ultimately saving both suffering and resources.
Lanzarote has shown the way. Now, the Government of the Canary Islands must translate commitment into action. The time for debate is over. The question isn’t if we can provide school nursing, but when and where – as a healthy student is a student ready to learn.This means ensuring a mother doesn’t have to miss work for an urgent injection, a guardian isn’t alone during a medical emergency, a child with diabetes can participate fully in school life, and mental health is openly addressed with professional support.
