TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Education is deploying public health professionals to schools to strengthen campus health and hygiene management.

The initiative began in October, when the ministry commissioned the Taipei Public Health Specialists Association. The goal is to leverage professionals’ expertise to help schools establish comprehensive health management systems, per CNA.

As of Tuesday, 74 schools have applied for on-site services, including 34 elementary schools, 11 junior high schools, and 29 senior high or vocational schools across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. The ministry said this reflects growing demand for such services.

Public health personnel will focus on campus environment management, health promotion for students and staff, disease prevention and control, and food safety. Tasks include controlling mosquitoes and rodents, clearing stagnant water, managing waste, planning nutrition and exercise programs, providing mental health guidance, monitoring infectious disease reporting, and reviewing kitchen hygiene, food sourcing, storage, and meal preparation.

The ministry noted that on-site inspections can also identify common campus risks, such as potholes on lawns, uncovered drains, and water collected in plant trays that can become mosquito breeding grounds.