State urged to train teachers on handling emergencies in schools to avert deaths
The government has been urged to initiate programs aimed at training teachers in identifying medical emergencies among students.
Dr. Betty Gikonyo, a renowned cardiologist, underscored the significance of such initiatives during a discussion on Friday. She emphasized that teachers hold a crucial role in safeguarding children's well-being due to the substantial time spent with them.
According to Dr. Gikonyo, teachers often serve as the first line of response during medical crises and should thus be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage such situations.
"Teachers play a pivotal role in children's welfare, spending extensive time with them. They often have a deep understanding of each child's well-being, sometimes even surpassing that of parents. Therefore, it's imperative for teachers to know how to respond to medical emergencies," she said.
She stressed that by empowering teachers to promptly recognize and address medical issues, preventable tragedies can be averted.
"This presents an opportunity to mitigate unnecessary sudden deaths or fatalities stemming from undetected illnesses in schools. By educating and engaging with teachers, we create an environment conducive to early detection of medical problems, thus reducing potential fatalities among our students," she elaborated.
The remarks come when two cases of deaths in schools have been reported this year.
On March 8, 2024, a Grade eight pupil from Joy Gardens Primary Tena-Umoja, Nairobi, died after allegedly falling from the school building.
According to the school management, the 13-year-old fell from the seventh floor of the school building at around 6 pm.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) visited the school and obtained CCTV footage while seeking to establish events to the boy's death.
Following the incident, two directors, and three other people were arraigned as the prosecution sought 21 days to detain the suspects, pending a probe into the case.
The body of the deceased was moved to Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary.
In another incident, a Grade Two pupil at Visa Oshwal Primary School was mysteriously found dead in the school’s swimming pool.
According to the family, the 11-year-old, Ilyaas Abdikarim Ali Mohamud had gone "missing" on February 20, 2024, only for his body to be found in the school's swimming pool in unclear circumstances.
His uncle had gone to pick him up but he was nowhere to be found.
The family accused the school of negligence in handling the case, claiming the boy could have been found had the school been seriously involved in his search after they discovered he was missing.
A post-mortem exercise conducted at Chiromo Mortuary confirmed that the boy succumbed to drowning and was buried at the Lang'ata cemetery.
Top Stories Today
