Every year Jitegemee conducts a Health Day for all our students and parents, so on December 6 and 7, 2016, 110 students and 87 parents were examined by our doctors and medical support team. The parents and students also received education and public health information from representatives from the Ministry of Health office in Machakos about communicable diseases and how to prevent transmission.
The exercise this year was a great success, and during their respective health days, each child and parent received a full annual checkup. Furthermore, 74 parents or students over the age of 18 elected to have an HIV test.
Representatives from the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health taught children and parents about about the causes and preventative measures for common diseases, including malaria, typhoid, amoebiasis, and cholera. The session included a hand-washing demonstration as a preventative measure to avoid risk of contracting these diseases.
Staff from the HIV Testing and Counseling department also at the Ministry of Health talked with our students and parents about common sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Parents also participated in a family planning information session. Anyone over the age of 18 was given the option of being tested for HIV/AIDS, and 74 students and parents selected to do so.
Dr. Desire, who practices at Bishop Kioko Hospital in Machakos, led the medical team that conducted health check-ups for all the students and parents. Those who needed specialist referrals or prescriptions were provided with medication or necessary referrals on the day.
At the conclusion of the parents’ health day, they were provided with food packages for their families to use over the holidays.
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