The Ministry of Health and Consumption, through its General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Services and Care and Socio-Health Care and in collaboration with the Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), is holding a conference in Granada as a meeting point for professionals involved in the development of the role of the School Nurse Referral Centers (ERCE). This conference, which was inaugurated online by the Minister of Health and Consumption, Rocío Hernández, aims to highlight the work of these professionals who, from a comprehensive perspective, manage, organize, and coordinate healthcare in Andalusian schools. As part of this objective, more than 15 best practices being implemented in schools in Andalusia will be shared, thanks to the coordination between the Ministries of Health and Consumption and Education and Vocational Training.
The Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Strategies, Prevention, and Promotion, Teresa Campos García, emphasized the importance of promoting healthy habits from childhood. «An ecosystem or environment is needed to contribute to good physical and mental development at an age where habits contribute to building behavior and care patterns that are maintained in adulthood.»
On the other hand, the Director General of Care and Socio-Health Care, Ana María Reales, congratulated all professional groups that are making health work possible in schools. «Your involvement and personal commitment are essential for the proper development of work in educational centers where intersectoral and multidisciplinary coordination is the basis of success.»
Family photo of the conference as a meeting point for professionals involved in the development of the role of the School Nurse Referral Centers (ERCE) held in Granada.
Framed within a Public Health model that focuses on prevention, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, and case management, the ERCE not only act as a link between the healthcare and educational systems but have also, through their continued presence, provided an integrated response to the needs of students. This figure, which gained strength after the pandemic and now has over 400 professionals throughout the community, is enabling more efficient and personalized care, in close collaboration with school leadership, teachers, families, and social and healthcare services.
It is important to note that their work focuses on coordinating protocols, assessing health needs, designing intervention strategies, and leading health education initiatives in schools. This role is helping to move towards a more structured, safe, and coherent school healthcare system that aligns with current realities and always in coordination with education professionals.
The conference is structured around several thematic tables where best practices, experiences, and tools developed in educational centers by ERCE will be shared. Among the most prominent initiatives are interventions to improve sleep in teenagers, programs for preventing vaping and smoking, school vaccination campaigns, projects promoting emotional well-being, and collaboration strategies between nursing and educational guidance teams.
Innovative experiences such as using digital media for health education aimed at families, implementing motivational interviews to promote healthy habits, and coordinated actions against epidemiological outbreaks or vulnerable situations will also be addressed. The conference, which is being held in both in-person and virtual formats, can be viewed on-demand on the EASP website.
During the conference, Inmaculada Gasco, from the Care and Socio-Health Care coordination, presented the ERCE Welcome Manual. «The ERCE has become a crucial support for teaching teams and families, especially in cases that require specific or continuous healthcare attention. Their presence in Andalusian classrooms ensures safe, inclusive schooling that promotes well-being, empowers students and their families in self-care, and provides the necessary tools so that, when needed, the chosen option is the healthiest choice,» she explained during her presentation.
With this conference, Andalusia reaffirms its commitment to an education that not only educates but also cares for and supports, building healthy school environments from the heart of the public system.