Children need pre-term medical check-ups
May 17, 2005
MANY boarding schools have sick-bays and infirmaries. But these are only stocked with common antibiotics, creams and ointments.
By Hilary Bainemigisha
MANY boarding schools have sick-bays and infirmaries. But these are only stocked with common antibiotics, creams and ointments.
According to Amooti Kabalenzi, a drug dispenser, if a school has a competent medical officer, the sickbay is allowed to dispense class B drugs (antibiotics like ampicillin, tetracycline) and class C (antipyretics like aspirin, panadol).
“Class A (narcotics) is only given by permission from the ministry of health,†she said.
So, when a student’s poor health persists, schools may have to call the parent to take the kid home for treatment.
“To avoid this, parents should pursue preventive methods for their kids and this starts at the beginning of the term,†says Nakamatte Nsubuga, the former school nurse at Gayaza Junior.
“The most important role of parents is to take their kids for general check-up, either to prescribed places or to any general hospital,†she said.
Even when schools don’t require it, kids should have their eyes, teeth and skin checked.
Blood, stool and urine should be examined for malaria, typhoid, worms and urinary tract infections.
And if there is a special case requiring attention, the sickbay nurse should be notified.
“Parents should also notify authorities of special cases of allergy, asthma, heart problems and sickle cell anaemia. The school nurse needs to know, where special drugs and nutrition are required so that such children are given special attention,†said Nsubuga, a registered nurse.
Nsubuga refused to suggest a health checklist for parents at the beginning of term saying children have unique requirements.
“Some girls have more distressing menstrual pains, which don’t even respond to pain killers available at school,†Nsubuga says.
In such a case, parents are advised to bring the potent painkiller to school and keep it with the school nurse from where the daughter can access it.
Otherwise, a parent must ensure the child has sanitary pads, shaving requirement, toothpaste and some literature on body hygiene if possible.
Where the child has allergies to foods served at school, certain drugs or jellies used for skin care, the parent may pack alternative jellies and drugs and bring them to the school sickbay.
Asked about what eats parents should pack, the former school nurse said some schools have regulations that govern eats.
She said all schools endeavour to prepare good and enough food for students.
But if it is a culture of students to bring grub, like roasted nuts or grain, and it is acceptable at school, it affects a child’s psychology and self-esteem if a parent does not avail them.
“What is important are the drinks. But it should not be any drink. Ribena, Lucozade, milk are some of the best if the parent can afford them,†Nsubuga says.
MANY boarding schools have sick-bays and infirmaries. But these are only stocked with common antibiotics, creams and ointments.
According to Amooti Kabalenzi, a drug dispenser, if a school has a competent medical officer, the sickbay is allowed to dispense class B drugs (antibiotics like ampicillin, tetracycline) and class C (antipyretics like aspirin, panadol).
“Class A (narcotics) is only given by permission from the ministry of health,†she said.
So, when a student’s poor health persists, schools may have to call the parent to take the kid home for treatment.
“To avoid this, parents should pursue preventive methods for their kids and this starts at the beginning of the term,†says Nakamatte Nsubuga, the former school nurse at Gayaza Junior.
“The most important role of parents is to take their kids for general check-up, either to prescribed places or to any general hospital,†she said.
Even when schools don’t require it, kids should have their eyes, teeth and skin checked.
Blood, stool and urine should be examined for malaria, typhoid, worms and urinary tract infections.
And if there is a special case requiring attention, the sickbay nurse should be notified.
“Parents should also notify authorities of special cases of allergy, asthma, heart problems and sickle cell anaemia. The school nurse needs to know, where special drugs and nutrition are required so that such children are given special attention,†said Nsubuga, a registered nurse.
Nsubuga refused to suggest a health checklist for parents at the beginning of term saying children have unique requirements.
“Some girls have more distressing menstrual pains, which don’t even respond to pain killers available at school,†Nsubuga says.
In such a case, parents are advised to bring the potent painkiller to school and keep it with the school nurse from where the daughter can access it.
Otherwise, a parent must ensure the child has sanitary pads, shaving requirement, toothpaste and some literature on body hygiene if possible.
Where the child has allergies to foods served at school, certain drugs or jellies used for skin care, the parent may pack alternative jellies and drugs and bring them to the school sickbay.
Asked about what eats parents should pack, the former school nurse said some schools have regulations that govern eats.
She said all schools endeavour to prepare good and enough food for students.
But if it is a culture of students to bring grub, like roasted nuts or grain, and it is acceptable at school, it affects a child’s psychology and self-esteem if a parent does not avail them.
“What is important are the drinks. But it should not be any drink. Ribena, Lucozade, milk are some of the best if the parent can afford them,†Nsubuga says.