Por Redaccion 
The Ministry of Health and Consumption, through its General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation and Care and Sociosanitary 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 remotely 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 goal, over 15 best practices being implemented in Andalusian schools will be shared thanks to the coordination between the Ministries of Health and Consumption and Education and Vocational Training.
The Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Regulation, Strategies, Prevention, and Promotion, Teresa Campos García, emphasized the importance of promoting healthy habits from childhood. «It requires an ecosystem or environment that contributes to a good physical and mental development at an age where developing habits helps build patterns of behavior and care that are maintained into adulthood.»
On the other hand, the Director General of Care and Sociosanitary Care, Ana María Reales, congratulated all professional groups that are making health work in schools possible. «Your involvement and personal commitment are essential for the proper development of work in educational centers where intersectoral and multidisciplinary coordination is the key to 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 lifestyles, and managing cases, the ERCE not only serve as a link between the healthcare system and the educational system but have also, through their continued presence, provided a coordinated response to the needs of students. This figure, which has 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 management teams, 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 progress towards a more structured, safe, and coherent school healthcare, always in coordination with education professionals.
The conference revolves 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 adolescents, 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 will also be addressed, such as using digital media for health education targeted at families, implementing motivational interviews to promote healthy habits, and coordinated actions against epidemiological outbreaks or vulnerable situations. 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 Sociosanitary 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, empowering students and their families in self-care and providing the necessary tools so that, if necessary, the chosen option is the healthiest,» she explained during her presentation.
With this conference, Andalusia reaffirms its commitment to education that not only instructs but also cares for and accompanies, building healthy school environments from the heart of the public system.