Ministry of Health Urged to Collaborate with Ghana Education Service for Improved Health Care in Senior High Schools –Ebenezer Terlabi
The Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, the Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, emphasized the critical need for collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Education Service to enhance the provision of quality healthcare for students in Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.
Terlabi highlighted the growing danger posed to students in SHS due to the high intake of students, leading to overpopulation in many schools. This overcrowding has become a breeding ground for sicknesses, raising concerns about potential epidemics.
Speaking on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi stressed the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by schools in managing the health needs of their students.
In a related development, Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), an education think tank, called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to collaborate with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in developing a comprehensive case management protocol for sick students in schools. The think tank expressed concern over reported deaths in secondary schools since 2017, citing instances where school authorities wrongly exercised discretion, denying sick students timely medical attention.
The recent tragic death of a first-year student at Aburi Girls Senior High School prompted Eduwatch to welcome the investigation launched by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The organization urged a thorough and transparent inquiry, emphasizing the importance of making the findings public.
Eduwatch emphasized the need for standardized case management protocols to prevent the abuse of discretionary powers by school authorities. It also highlighted challenges in some schools, such as sickbays operating on a cash-and-carry basis for medicines, despite students holding National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cards.
The think tank underscored the unique challenges faced by Ghana, being the only country operating a public boarding secondary education system with over one million students in boarding houses. The increasing school populations, some reaching up to 6,000 students and staff on campus, require immediate attention to ensure the delivery of primary healthcare and the strengthening of referral systems.
Child Rights International (CRI) also called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent death at Aburi Girls Senior High School. The organization urged the Ghana Education Service, Police, and National Security to prioritize the health and safety of students through reforms and regulatory measures.
Bright Appiah, the Executive Director of CRI, emphasized the need for a shift in the regulatory focus from administrative powers and maintenance of physical structures to safeguarding the rights and lives of children in junior and senior high schools.
The Ghana Education Service stated that an internal investigation is ongoing, with management collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies to independently examine the matter.
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