Adewale Owolabi, managing director, Medifield Healthcare Limited, a leading provider of school health services in Nigeria, has advocated for the implementation of a robust school health programme that would ensure sound academic performance of students
Owolabi, while speaking to over 100 parents, teachers and school management of Karis School, Magodo, Lagos, where he announced the donation of 10 sets of reading eye glasses to some pupils of said researches have proven that learning outcomes are both directly and indirectly linked to the health and wellbeing of students.
According to him, “In a study carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation, WHO and UNICEF, it was discovered that about one out of every five pupils in Nigerian schools have sub-optimal vision.
“While another study showed that about 19 percent of the total number of pupils had sub-optimal hearing. This no doubt can greatly impair ability to learn given that educational instructions are passed to the pupils through audiovisual means.”
He further revealed that Medifield is passionate about improving the total well-being of the Nigerian children for outstanding academic performance.
“Our health screening team spotted some pupils of Karis School who needed glasses to enhance their learning and we thought it wise to donate these quality glasses to them. Adding that, “the 10 pupils were not aware of their visual impairment but were discovered after the screening exercise which involved about 150 pupils of the school,” he said.
Bukola Ugwu, coordinator, medical services at Medifield, reiterated the need for schools to engage in health programmes, and urged schools to embrace and inculcate school health programme which among other things, enables a school to have a functional Sick Bay where pupils with minor ailments can be attended to and their growth monitored. Skill-based health education, regular de-worming exercise, adequate nutrition and school environmental health education can be assessed.
On her part, Nonny Rosemary Nwajei, executive director, Karis School, disclosed that the pupils have benefited substantially since signing-on to the Medifield School Health Programme while enjoining other schools to hook up as it helps the children to remain healthy for peak academic performance.
Medifield Comprehensive School Health and Health Screening Programmes are designed by Medifield Healthcare Limited with quality in mind to provide integrated quality Healthcare services to pupils of Primary and Secondary Schools based on the principles of Managed Care. The healthcare services, which combine preventive, promotive and curative care, complement the learning process for the children.
The School Health Programme combines the establishment and management of Sick Bays (In-house Clinics), Preventive and Screening Programmes with provision of basic healthcare at accredited clinics and hospitals close to the school with a system of referral and coordination.
KELECHI EWUZIE
