Fuerteventura School Nurses Host the First Regional School Health Congress in Costa Calma

The school nurses of Fuerteventura, from the School Nursing Program of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), are organizing the 1st Autonomous Congress on School Health, which will take place on 10 and 11 April, alongside the III Southern School Health Fair in Pájara.

“From theory to the fair” – the congress motto underscores the pioneering nature of this initiative in the Canary Islands, aiming to unite science, community, and education to build a coordinated, evidence‑based school health model focused on students’ well‑being.

The introduction of school nurses into educational centres—driven by the Canary Islands Ministries of Health, Education, Vocational Training, Sports and Physical Activity—seeks to promote healthy habits in classrooms and to coordinate care between the school environment and the health system.

Congress Program

The congress will be held at the Hotel Río Calma (Costa Calma) and will bring together school nurses, teachers, health professionals, researchers, and students. Over two days, the agenda will cover pressing topics such as:

• Mental health and emotional well‑being
• Healthy lifestyle habits
• Prevention of bullying and addictions
• Care for chronic diseases
• Innovation in school health

The program combines round‑table discussions, scientific communications, and poster presentations. Awards will be given for the best contributions, with prizes for oral communications and scientific posters.

This initiative addresses the need to make school nursing visible, to harmonize professional practice in school health, to promote evidence‑based common models, and to forge strategic alliances among institutions.

The organization of the congress has been supported by the Health Area of Fuerteventura, the Island Health Services Management, the Island Council, and the Municipality of Pájara.

Educational Fair with Participation of Over 800 Students

In parallel, on the morning of Friday, 10 April, the III Southern School Health Fair will be held at the sports facilities of Costa Calma, involving more than 800 primary‑school students from various schools in the municipality of Pájara and from CEIP Tarajalejo (Tuineje).

The fair will offer a dynamic, participatory, and hands‑on experience, featuring workshops on:

• First aid and basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Oral health
• Healthy nutrition and physical activity
• Emotional health
• Prevention of addictions and bullying
• The FAST HEROES program for stroke detection and response

Activities will be led by school nurses from the SCS program, in collaboration with local associations, partner organisations, and health‑area professionals, thereby consolidating a real community‑intervention model.

Following the success of the two previous editions of the fair, the addition of a scientific congress transforms this event into a regional benchmark with national outreach.