21 Jul 2019

The Lobatse District Health Management Team (DHMT) recently gave certificates to 144 implementers of school health programme in the district.

The certificates were a token of appreciation for the contribution made last year by the implementers in making the school health programme successful in the district.

Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Ms Kolobetso Sejakgomo commended the district for embracing the programme geared towards promoting good health and learning environment in schools.

Ms Sejakgomo explained that Lobatse was among the districts operating the programme smoothly. She said the programme had resulted in improvement in learners’ performance in some schools around the district such as Peleng West

Primary School which last year improved its pass rate to 91 per cent.

“The effectiveness which you have implemented this programme has created a wonderful image for our town and we appreciate your commitment. Our efforts are so visible such that other districts and countries like Ghana have come to benchmark on us,” she said.

Lobatse DHMT chairperson, Dr Boipelo Lecoge put the successful implementation of the programme down to strong collaboration between officials from the ministries of health and wellness, basic education, and local government in the district. “The programme is very important because it ensures that learners are healthy.

We want all our learners to be healthy to enable them to learn effectively and efficiently.

We also want to ensure that the environment is conducive and supports their learning,” she said. Dr Lecoge added that the programme focused on good sanitation in schools and the teaching of good health practices to children.

The chief technical officer for health promotion and education in Lobatse DHMT, Ms Lucretia Moremi said the key components of the programme entailed teaching life skills, provision of health services through annual immunization campaigns in schools, health guidance and counselling.

She said they had rolled out the programme in all schools in Lobatse. “We don’t disturb the school curriculum. Usually we attend to them at the beginning of the school term.

We have also activated the pact club by training some learners and they reach to other pupils. At the end of the year, we evaluate which school has done well,” she said. The awardees were broken into best individual, pioneers, best ministry and best team categories.

The best team award was won by Bothakga Primary School, while the improved team went to Peleng West Primary School. ENDS