Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Bioluwatife Akinyemi
Published on 2024-03-23 21:30:07
The Centre for Sustainable Access to Health in Africa (CeSAHA) is an organization dedicated to promoting health and supporting the United Nations’ agenda on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in developing countries in Africa. Recently, CeSAHA facilitated free medical services through its comprehensive school health program for a total of eight hundred and twenty-one (821) beneficiaries, including pupils, staff, parents, and alumni of Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools in Elekuro, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The comprehensive school health initiative took place over two weeks in March 2024 in collaboration with the 1971 Alumni set of Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools (WCPS). The project, known as ‘The Healthy Learning Project,’ aimed to preserve, promote, and improve the health of all individuals involved through a sustainable, replicable, and scalable school health intervention program. This program utilized a 5-component framework including School Health Policy, School Health Instructions, Healthy School Environment, School Health Services, and Inter-sectoral participation.
The objectives of the program, which followed a needs assessment and Gap analysis of existing school health services, aimed to encourage positive health-seeking behaviors, increase awareness and utilization of school health services, promote sanitation and hygiene practices, and create a healthy learning environment for pupils and staff. CeSAHA partnered with six technical partners for the project, including the Society For Family Health (SFH), Health Alive Foundation (HAF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Elekuro Primary Health Centre, The Integral Global Outreach, Save Dental Initiative, and AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN).
During the program, a total of 821 beneficiaries were screened, including 676 pupils and 145 adults. The first week included anthropometric measurements, health assessments, disease screenings, treatment of common ailments, and health education sessions. The second week featured health education and demonstration sessions by various specialists, eye and dental screenings, distribution of eyeglasses, health information materials, and the commissioning of the School Health Club.
The Project Manager of Wesley College Practicing School Health Project emphasized CeSAHA’s commitment to providing affordable and sustainable healthcare services for underserved communities and the importance of a School Health Programme in promoting health and well-being. The outcomes of the screening activities revealed a high rate of malnutrition among pupils, calling for intervention through a government-sponsored school feeding program.
The event saw the formal launch of the School Health Programme with messages of support from various representatives and officials, including the Oyo State Commissioner for Health. The commissioning of the School Health Club by Dr. Adewumi Ajetunmobi, an old student of the school, highlighted the importance of the program in shaping students’ future careers and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Overall, the comprehensive school health program organized by CeSAHA in collaboration with Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools was a successful initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of pupils, staff, parents, and alumni in the community.
Read the original article on Nigerian Tribune
