Health Check ups

Every two weeks the health team gives medical checkups to over 500 students enrolled at all 8 learning centers and two nurseries. Each student has their own medical record kept and updated by the health team. For most children it is their first ever medical record card. Medical records are kept for all the students. This way we are able to track the physical development of each child and note health trends and changes among the Learning centre children. We are also able to spot and treat short term and potentially long term health problems in the children.

Health education

The health team provides health education to over 500 students enrolled in GHRE-FED’s 8 learning centers and 2 nurseries. Each learning center receives one education session every 2 weeks. The ages of these students range from 5 -16. FED covers different topics for each session and measures the students’ increased understanding with pre- and post training tests. FED also educates teachers and parents who are at the learning centers regarding health topics appropriate for school children during monthly teacher meetings and parents’ meetings held twice a term.

The education topics selected by the health team are chosen according to the most prominent health issues seen affecting the children. The health team teaches learning center students disease prevention such as how to prevent malaria, diarrhea, dengue fever, and other common maladies as well as personal hygiene, dental care and the importance of and how to treat minor wounds.

Recently the local area saw a rise in the number of Swine Flu (H1N1) cases and Chikungunya. When the area is at significant risk from a particular disease such as these the teachers and staff are trained to recognize the symptoms and know how to respond. Very soon after H1N1 training was given to the learning centre teachers, a student was identified with having the disease and she was able to receive the most appropriate care.

The children have also undergone first aid training. This training included how to clean and treat open wounds, how to respond to insect and snake bites, Every Learning centre has a fully stocked first aid box to be used when the need arises. Several children have put their knowledge to use in a number of incidences at the learning centres.