Gov’t announces student health assessment results

About 327,000 students were assessed.

The Department of Health released the results of the annual student health assessment for the school year 2022-2023.

233,000 primary students and 97,000 secondary students attended the Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) for annual health assessment services.

The assessment revealed that deterioration of eye vision and obesity were prominent amongst the students. Higher risks for both conditions are attributed to decreased outdoor physical activity and increased screen time, likely due to class suspensions and modified school arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The percentage of Primary One students who wore corrective lenses remained stable at 11% from the 2015-16 school year to 2019-20, but increased to 15% in 2020-21 and remained level till 2022-23. 

Meanwhile, the overall percentage of primary and secondary school students who required a referral to the optometry service for further visual assessment slightly dropped to 13% in 2022-23.

Detection rates for obesity in both primary and secondary student groups remain elevated in 2022-23, though with a slight decrease to 19.5% and 20.5% from 20.6% and 22.1% of the previous academic year.

Students were also provided with individual health counseling and advice following the assessment of their emotions and mental health needs.