Tu Ky focuses on school health

Instructing children to wash their hands with soap at Quang Khai Kindergarten

Tu Ky district currently has 25 kindergartens with 10,635 children, 25 primary schools with 16,299 students, 24 secondary schools with 10,315 students. All schools have separate medical rooms, first aid equipment, and medical staff are trained in basic skills in school medical activities.

Being a commune far from the center of Tu Ky district, with a large number of students, Nguyen Giap Secondary School has arranged a separate medical room to take care of students and a part-time medical staff. With relatively new facilities, the lighting, ventilation, tables, chairs, and electric fans in the classrooms are basically in accordance with regulations. Every week, the school propagates about disease prevention and school-related diseases so that all 614 students can understand and avoid them.

In 2021, Cong Lac is the hot spot of Tu Ky district for the Covid-19 epidemic with an outbreak at GFT Vietnam Co., Ltd. Cong Lac Secondary School has many students who are children of Covid-19 patients working at the above company. Therefore, the school pays special attention to school health activities and disease prevention for students. Because the new buildings of the school are being completed, the medical room is temporarily arranged, with a quite small area. However, the school always carries out medical activities systematically.

Ms. Doan Thi Phuong, Principal of the school, said: "In addition to traditional activities to prevent school-related diseases and infectious diseases, every year the school coordinates with the District Health Center to organize periodic health check-ups for students. Through this, we have promptly detected diseases of the eyes, teeth, scoliosis, and even heart disease."

Preschools also pay special attention to school health activities to ensure children develop comprehensively and avoid school-related diseases. Quang Khai Kindergarten has 375 children in 17 classes. The health room is arranged separately. The school closely coordinates with the commune health station and An Binh General Clinic to organize periodic health check-ups for children twice a year. Since the beginning of the school year, the school has established a Primary Health Care Committee and a School Health Subcommittee, directing teachers to effectively implement injury prevention, environmental sanitation in classes, school supplies, and children's toys; regularly monitor children's health, weight, height, and physical development at each stage... School health activities have contributed to reducing and controlling infectious diseases in schools, helping children develop comprehensively in both mind and body.

Staff of Nguyen Giap Commune Health Station examines health of secondary school students

However, school health activities in Tu Ky district still face obstacles. The source of specialized health workers in schools is still limited. The district has 74 schools but only has 15 specialized health workers in 12 primary schools and 3 secondary schools. Health workers in the remaining schools are all part-time, mainly performing the tasks of accountants, treasurers, and teachers, so many people are still confused in implementing their tasks and advising school leaders on health activities.

The workload of medical staff in schools is quite large. In many kindergartens and primary schools with semi-boarding meals, students spend more time at school than at home. The semi-boarding kitchen must be managed by medical staff, who are responsible for food safety. In addition, school medical staff must also organize epidemic prevention activities, handle the environment... The lack of specialized school medical staff also affects the work of nurturing and caring for children.

DUC THANH