State urged to train teachers to detect health emergencies in learners

The Ministry of Education has been urged to train teachers on how to detect medical emergencies among learners in schools. 

Renowned cardiologist Dr Betty Gikonyo said there is a dire need for teachers to be trained in detecting medical emergencies in their learners to help reduce the frequent high incidence of sudden deaths in schools.

Dr Gikonyo said numerous cases of school children dying in learning institutions due to undetected health problems can be reduced if teachers are trained on early detection.

"Some sudden deaths can be prevented if teachers are made trained on what symptoms to look out for in suspected cases like of heart diseases," she said. 

Dr Gikonyo spoke on Friday in Nairobi after she launched a health workshop for teachers drawn from across the country at the Karen Hospital.

The annual teachers' workshop was specifically tailored to sensitise the tutors on how to detect heart and other health problems among learners.

Dr Gikonyo noted teachers are the first responders when pupils get into health problems and therefore need to be well-equipped to detect such emergencies. 

She added that the training should not simply touch on the detection of health emergencies, but also the initial intervention measures that the teacher ought to take. 

"The training should not be just for detecting heart-related issues but also other health emergencies," Dr Gikonyo said. 

The teachers' workshop was organised under the Karen Hospital's Heart to Heart Foundation.

Teachers attending the workshop said the sensitisation workshop had equipped them with basics in the detection of health problems and what-to-do- skills.

The teachers were also privileged to get a free medical check-up that was being offered during the launch of the sensitisation workshop.