IS YOUR CHILD FIT TO RETURN TO SCHOOL?
Sep 08, 2009
FIFTEEN-year-old Cate cannot wait to head back to school, where she is one of the best student. Unknown to her parents, however, is that last term she could hardly see the blackboard. “I would see blurry writings, so I asked my teacher to move me to th
By Irene Nabusoba
FIFTEEN-year-old Cate cannot wait to head back to school, where she is one of the best student. Unknown to her parents, however, is that last term she could hardly see the blackboard. “I would see blurry writings, so I asked my teacher to move me to the front to improve my visibility,†she explains. “Thank God we are mandated to do back-to-school medical checks. My doctor managed to diagnose the problem and got me a pair of glasses.â€
This week marks the beginning of third term, but as you worry about school fees, is your child’s health good enough to allow them return to school?
Dr. Holly Phillips, in her on line article, Back-To-School: Important Health Checks For Kids, says there are some important health checks your child should have before they return to the classroom.
“Heading back to school requires more than just a new lunchbox and school supplies. There’s no better time to get the eye exam than when children are heading back to school. Children who are having vision problems may not tell their parents or even be aware of what is wrong, but symptoms like squinting, blinking, or rubbing their eyes should be taken as important clues.
“A hearing test is also a must. Children with minor hearing impairments are 10 times more likely to have trouble in school, and it can also impair their speech development.â€
“Make sure to write out an action plan for dealing with a health condition your child might have. Include medications and instructions for emergency.
“The teachers and school nurse should have copies, as well as a phone number(s) for you and your paediatrician. It is also a good idea to get children started on a regular sleep schedule a week before school starts. Make sure they go to bed and wake up at the same time each day,†she adds.
Nakate Kikomeko, the head-teacher of Trinity College Nabbingo, says it is mandatory for parents to first conduct medical checks for their children before they are allowed back to school.
“We take these tests seriously. That is why we insist on Nsambya Hospital examining our students because it is our trusted referral centre. Parents had been giving us fake medical recommendations, while others were bribing doctors to sign the forms without examining the children.â€
Why is a check-up important?
“These are growing children, so we check for reproductive health issues because growing up comes with complexities, especially for the girl-child,†Kikomeko explains. “A medical check-up should be done at least once a year.†The reason the school is strict on a medical check-up is because some students fall sick only a week after returning to school, while others ask to go back home to see a doctor.
“Diseases such as typhoid, persistent fever and cough as well as communicable disease such as small pox, STIs and measles can be a set-back for the child and the school,†Kikomeko says. “These mandatory tests have improved our health budget. Our expenditure on medical has been cut down by a quarter,†she discloses. “If a child is sick, a parent is supposed to declare the medicine to the school nurse, unless the condition is critical.â€
Unfortunately, many parents are not enthusiastic about the check-up. “They tend to insist on one clinic or doctor. If one doctor is supposed to check all the students from one school, he is likely to ask questions hurriedly just to get paid,†says Maria, a parent. “Some head-teachers connive with doctors and have their cut.â€
Kikomeko advises parents to spread the medical visits throughout the holiday, though many wait till the last minute.
“Nonetheless, Ugandans should learn to respect institutional policies. How come we go through one airport, line up at the passport office for days and are willing to wait, yet when it is about the health of our children, we are up in arms,†says a parent.
Victoria Kisalare, the head-teacher of Gayaza High School, says a medical check-up is not compulsory. She says parents are already burdened by so many demands, including raising school fees for their children before the next term begins. “It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that a child sees a doctor before going back to school.â€
Fagil Mandy, an education consultant, says many people only go for a check-up when they are sick. “But it should be different because we are in charge of our lives. A parent entrusts a school with their child, and the school is liable to be sued in case of any mishap. Besides, some diseases are not easily diagnosed,†Mandy says. “If parents are ignorant, school authorities should educate them about the benefits of a check-up.â€
What is recommended?
Dr. John Twinomuhangi from Mbale District Referral Hospital says they check for malaria, anaemia, blood pressure, heart pulse, height and weight, skin infections and pregnancy.
“Different schools have different requirements. Others insist on HIV tests, STIs, eye and ear check-ups, allergies and dental exams. But we object to HIV tests because we have to take the child through counselling, which could be traumatic. But if the parent and the child consent, we carry out the test after counselling,†Twinomuhangi says.
Other schools ask parents to take a medical recommendation stating that the child is well, but without specifying the kind of check-up required.
Twinomuhangi says the procedure is free in government facilities, but in private clinics, it costs about sh10,000 to sh30,000, depending on the number and nature of tests.
Is there a ministry policy?
John Agaba, the acting commissioner for secondary education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says:
“We do not have any policy. Schools set their own policies guided by the board of governors. But we second them, especially the boarding schools.
“Why should one child spread chicken pox to the whole school because of a careless parent?†Agaba asks. “However, it is wrong for schools to insist on a particular doctor or clinic to do the check-up because some head-teachers connive with medics to fleece parents.
But some parents appreciate the procedure. “If a child has been in school for three months, it is imperative that you de-worm, check for malaria and ask if there is any health condition that needs attention.
FIFTEEN-year-old Cate cannot wait to head back to school, where she is one of the best student. Unknown to her parents, however, is that last term she could hardly see the blackboard. “I would see blurry writings, so I asked my teacher to move me to the front to improve my visibility,†she explains. “Thank God we are mandated to do back-to-school medical checks. My doctor managed to diagnose the problem and got me a pair of glasses.â€
This week marks the beginning of third term, but as you worry about school fees, is your child’s health good enough to allow them return to school?
Dr. Holly Phillips, in her on line article, Back-To-School: Important Health Checks For Kids, says there are some important health checks your child should have before they return to the classroom.
“Heading back to school requires more than just a new lunchbox and school supplies. There’s no better time to get the eye exam than when children are heading back to school. Children who are having vision problems may not tell their parents or even be aware of what is wrong, but symptoms like squinting, blinking, or rubbing their eyes should be taken as important clues.
“A hearing test is also a must. Children with minor hearing impairments are 10 times more likely to have trouble in school, and it can also impair their speech development.â€
“Make sure to write out an action plan for dealing with a health condition your child might have. Include medications and instructions for emergency.
“The teachers and school nurse should have copies, as well as a phone number(s) for you and your paediatrician. It is also a good idea to get children started on a regular sleep schedule a week before school starts. Make sure they go to bed and wake up at the same time each day,†she adds.
Nakate Kikomeko, the head-teacher of Trinity College Nabbingo, says it is mandatory for parents to first conduct medical checks for their children before they are allowed back to school.
“We take these tests seriously. That is why we insist on Nsambya Hospital examining our students because it is our trusted referral centre. Parents had been giving us fake medical recommendations, while others were bribing doctors to sign the forms without examining the children.â€
Why is a check-up important?
“These are growing children, so we check for reproductive health issues because growing up comes with complexities, especially for the girl-child,†Kikomeko explains. “A medical check-up should be done at least once a year.†The reason the school is strict on a medical check-up is because some students fall sick only a week after returning to school, while others ask to go back home to see a doctor.
“Diseases such as typhoid, persistent fever and cough as well as communicable disease such as small pox, STIs and measles can be a set-back for the child and the school,†Kikomeko says. “These mandatory tests have improved our health budget. Our expenditure on medical has been cut down by a quarter,†she discloses. “If a child is sick, a parent is supposed to declare the medicine to the school nurse, unless the condition is critical.â€
Unfortunately, many parents are not enthusiastic about the check-up. “They tend to insist on one clinic or doctor. If one doctor is supposed to check all the students from one school, he is likely to ask questions hurriedly just to get paid,†says Maria, a parent. “Some head-teachers connive with doctors and have their cut.â€
Kikomeko advises parents to spread the medical visits throughout the holiday, though many wait till the last minute.
“Nonetheless, Ugandans should learn to respect institutional policies. How come we go through one airport, line up at the passport office for days and are willing to wait, yet when it is about the health of our children, we are up in arms,†says a parent.
Victoria Kisalare, the head-teacher of Gayaza High School, says a medical check-up is not compulsory. She says parents are already burdened by so many demands, including raising school fees for their children before the next term begins. “It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that a child sees a doctor before going back to school.â€
Fagil Mandy, an education consultant, says many people only go for a check-up when they are sick. “But it should be different because we are in charge of our lives. A parent entrusts a school with their child, and the school is liable to be sued in case of any mishap. Besides, some diseases are not easily diagnosed,†Mandy says. “If parents are ignorant, school authorities should educate them about the benefits of a check-up.â€
What is recommended?
Dr. John Twinomuhangi from Mbale District Referral Hospital says they check for malaria, anaemia, blood pressure, heart pulse, height and weight, skin infections and pregnancy.
“Different schools have different requirements. Others insist on HIV tests, STIs, eye and ear check-ups, allergies and dental exams. But we object to HIV tests because we have to take the child through counselling, which could be traumatic. But if the parent and the child consent, we carry out the test after counselling,†Twinomuhangi says.
Other schools ask parents to take a medical recommendation stating that the child is well, but without specifying the kind of check-up required.
Twinomuhangi says the procedure is free in government facilities, but in private clinics, it costs about sh10,000 to sh30,000, depending on the number and nature of tests.
Is there a ministry policy?
John Agaba, the acting commissioner for secondary education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, says:
“We do not have any policy. Schools set their own policies guided by the board of governors. But we second them, especially the boarding schools.
“Why should one child spread chicken pox to the whole school because of a careless parent?†Agaba asks. “However, it is wrong for schools to insist on a particular doctor or clinic to do the check-up because some head-teachers connive with medics to fleece parents.
But some parents appreciate the procedure. “If a child has been in school for three months, it is imperative that you de-worm, check for malaria and ask if there is any health condition that needs attention.