……….Commissions School Health Club
The Centre for Sustainable Access to Health in Africa (CeSAHA), is an organization working to promote health and support the United Nations’ agenda on Universal Health Coverage in developing countries of Africa. It recently facilitated free medical services through its Comprehensive School Health Program for a total number of eight hundred and twenty-one (821) beneficiaries covering pupils, staff, parents and Alumni of Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools, Elekuro, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The comprehensive school health initiative was carried out for two weeks (March 2024) in collaboration with the 1971 Alumni set of Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools (WCPS).
According to CeSAHA, the project tagged ‘’The Healthy Learning Project” had the primary aim of preserving, promoting and improving the health of all pupils, staff, parents, alumni members and the larger community through a sustainable, replicable, and scalable school health intervention programme using a 5-component framework: School Health Policy, School Health Instructions, Healthy School Environment, School Health Services and Inter-sectoral participation.
The objectives of this lofty programme that was preceded by a Needs assessment and Gap analysis of the existing school health services, included enthronement of positive health seeking behaviors and practices among pupils, staff and the wider community. Other objectives included increased awareness, availability and utilization of school health services and promotion of best-in-class sanitation and hygiene practices in the school, creation and sustaining a healthy and safe learning environment for pupils and a productive workplace for staff among others.
As part of its strong commitment to deliver exceptional services, CeSAHA brought on board six reputable technical partners for the project among which were 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).
While revealing the breakdown of the beneficiaries to FRESHPAGE.COM.NG, CeSAHA confirmed that a total of 821 persons were screened during the program among which 676 were pupils while 145 were adults comprised of staff, parents and alumni of the school. Speaking further, CeSAHA media officer said that the first week of the program featured anthropometric measurements, nutritional and health status assessment, screening for diseases like Tuberculosis, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Hypertension, Dental and Eye Conditions. Other services rendered in week 1 included treatment of common ailments and health education and counselling sessions by trained health counsellors.
Week two activities of the project was fully loaded culminating into health education and demonstration sessions by NDLEA, CeSAHA team, and Dental and Eye care specialists. Also, Eye screening for already pre-selected pupils, staff, parents and alumni took place just as other health specialists conducted the dental screening and treatment (Scaling & Polishing, Extraction and Filling) for pre-selected individuals. Distribution of “medicated” prescriptive eyeglasses to pupils and adults, distribution of Health Information, Education and Communication materials and refill of first aid box were not left behind.
The highlight of week two event was the flag-off ceremony and commissioning of the School Health Club, which hosted the Oyo State Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Adewumi Ajetunmobi and the feeding of all the pupils and staff of the 4 schools with nutritious meals.
The Project Manager of Wesley College Practicing School Health Project, Miss Blessing Adekunbi Adeyemo gave the opening remarks. In her remarks, she reiterated the commitment of CeSAHA in providing affordable and sustainable access to high-quality health care services for underserved communities. She emphasized the tight correlation between healthy and well children and their educational achievement. In her words, “An effective School Health Programme (SHP) can play a vital role in disease prevention and promoting health and enhancing the well-being of students, the staff, parents, and the society at large”
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Speaking on behalf of the CeSAHA about the outcome of the screening activities, Uche Eze identified high rate of malnutrition among pupils in various schools and called for prompt intervention through introduction of government sponsored school feeding program to arrest the ugly trend.
Mrs Adeyomoye, the representative of SUBEB Chairman did the formal launch of Wesley College Practicing Group of Schools Health Programme.
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Representative of the Head of Service, Dr Ayoola gave his goodwill message. He encouraged CeSAHA not to relent in its vision to promote health care services and support for the underserved communities in Oyo State and beyond. Also speaking, Mrs Adeshina, representative of the Global Alumni Coordinator appreciated CeSAHA and the 1971 alumni set for deeming it fit to remember her alma mater with such impactful project.
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Present at the event were Very Reverend Temitope Owolabi of Wesley Cathedral, Elekuro, 1971 Alumni set of WCPS among others.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adewumi Ajetunmobi who is also an old student of the school, commissioned the school health club. She urged pupils to tap the benefits embedded in the scheme which will shape their future career and living a healthy life.
Mr. Idowu Adeosun, a member of the 1971 set gave the closing remarks and vote of thanks at the event.
