By Laudia Sawer, GNA
Tema, Jan. 17, GNA - Industries and other organizations operating in Tema have been urged to help put up well equipped sickbays in Senior High Schools (SHS) in the harbour city.
Madam Agatha Adrah, School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator, Tema Metropolitan Education Directorate, making the appeal, said all SHS’s and basic schools in the Metropolis needed a sickbay to handle minor medical issues on campus before they get out of hand.
Madam Adrah, who together with Mrs Grace Eddy Amewu, the Adolescent Focal Person for the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, had visited some schools to assess the availability and functionality of their sickbays, said the need for sickbays could not be over emphasized.
She told the Ghana News Agency that apart from the Tema Senior High School which had a fit for purpose sickbay put up by its old students, majority of the schools did not have and those that had was nothing to write home about.
She noted that the need for the sickbays was urgent as the Health Directorate was assigning nurses to the schools to treat minor medical issues adding that hitherto teachers handled such issues or sent sick students home.
According to her, a well-functioning sickbay would improve academic work of students, as their medical issues would receive prompt care and the tendency of students staying away from school and borders using such sicknesses as excuses to secure permission to stay out of campus would be curtailed.
She therefore called for the construction of structures to house such sickbays and the provision of the needed medical supplies and drugs.
Madam Philomena Owusu-Ansah, Head Mistress, Manhean Senior High Technical School, thanked the Health Directorate for assigning a nurse to the school.
Madam Owusu-Ansah stated that due to the absence of a sickbay, an assistant head teacher’s office was temporally being used adding that a new facility must be ready by the end of January as a substantive assistant head was expected to occupy that office.
She indicated that her outfit had written letters to some companies to assist the school to properly establish their sickbay adding that most of the time, it was difficult getting in touch with parents during emergencies and that the school also bore the cost of treatment for students sent to nearby facilities.
She appealed to parents to ensure that their wards always had at least photocopies of their National Health Insurance card on them at all times for easy access to medical care.
Mrs Amemu, on her part, said apart from giving medical care, the Registered General Nurses assigned to the schools would provide adolescent friendly services and guide them to make informed decisions on their sexuality and other development issues.
She therefore urged students to have to confidence to discuss and seek advice on all health issues from the resident nurses.
GNA
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS