Child health and education in Kenyan schools programmes
Fleming, J.
Health Visitor 64(3): 80-81
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-9140 PMID: 2019516 Document Number: 315319
Even though Kenya stopped requiring tuition for primary school in the early 1970s, parents still must pay for books, pencils, and uniforms and contribute to a building fund. Enrollment for 8 year olds stands around 92%. The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) in Kisumu, Kenya recognizes the potential for improving the health status of children by using primary schools as a vehicle for health education. Its schools program sees school children as providers of health care for younger siblings. The program incorporates children's education, health, and health education. School children learn about health and pass on the information at home. For example, school children check to see if basic public health measures are done at done, e.g., covers for latrines. Teachers encourage students to bring younger siblings to monthly monitoring sessions. Here they learn to interpret growth charts and to determine who need immunizations. Since many primary school students are teenagers and teenage pregnancies are common, sex education is being considered. A comic book called Pied Crow distributed to every primary school addresses social issues, such as AIDS. Malaria killed 20 children in 1987, but by 1991 it killed only 2-3 children in Kisumu. Infant mortality in 1984 stood between 194-236/1000 and by 1987 AKHS reduced it 145.5-177. WHO's expanded program on immunization still does not serve most children, however, mainly because 25% of Kenyans live 5 miles from a rural health facility. Therefore measles still is the leading cause of death in children followed by acute respiratory failure. Some teachers become community health workers and other teachers interact with them. Community health workers partake in child growth monitoring activities and health education. Some areas around Kisumu now have piped water and AKHS has a well digging program. These activities have resulted in a substantial reduction in diarrhea.