THE SUITABILITY OF HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SPREAD IN NIGERIA INDUSTRIAL DISEASES AMONG PRE-SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (1-5 YEARS). (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
Back Ground of the study
School health services are those services provided in schools by health educator; nurses, physicians; dentist and other health related workers like guidance counselors and social workers to health appraise, promote and protect the health of pupils and that of the personnel.
Johnson (1991) observed that school health services are procedures established to: appraise the health status of pupils and school personnel, counsel pupils, parents and others concerning appraisal findings, carryout follow-up services, provide emergency care for injury or sudden illness,help prevent and control communicable diseases and encourage the correction of remedial defects.
School health services are designed to determine the physical and emotional status of pupils, to prevent diseases and to secure the cooperation of parents and pupils, for correcting defects and maintenance of health (Mshelia, 1999), in contributing to the concept of school health services, Akinbile (1998) stated that school health services contribute to those school activities directly concerned with the present health status of the school child. Nwana (1988) regretted that what is referred to as school health services in Nigeria may be described as a farce while Kane (1997) noted that although special clinics were established for the welfare of pre-school children, the same cannot be said of the health of school children. Negligence of the school health services can be attributed to the unfounded assumption by Nigerians that once a Nigerian child attains school age
be becomes immune to diseases. In Nigeria, Abiodum (1996) conducted a survey of 500 pupils aged between five and fifteen years in a small rural community and seventy five percent (75%) were found to suffer from mental morbidity, disturbances of emotional and conduct disorder constituted sixty seven percent (67%) of the total morbidity rate detected which made him to emphasize the need for a more functional school health services. The most basic functional aspect of school health services is the health appraisal of pupils. According to Freeman (1999), health appraisal involves the continuous and close observation of the school child and the teacher, while Turner, Bandall and Smith (1990) viewed health appraisal of
pupils? health as a means that ensures, professional advice to pupils and their families on personal health as well as advice to the school on the adaptation of the school programme to the needs of pupils. Health appraisal should include dental inspection, screening tests for vision, hearing and speech, medical examination, health history and teacher?s observations.
