1.0 INTRODUCTION
Research and evaluation have demonstrated that school based health centres represent cost-effective investment of public resources. A study conducted by John Hopkins University School of public health attributes a reduction in medical expenditure related to inpatient drugs and emergency department to the use of school based health centre. School health program deals with all aspects of the total school health activities which contributed to the understanding, maintenance and improvement of the health of the school population, particularly the students’ learning environment safe and conducive for learning (American School Health Association, 2006).
According to American School Health Association (2011), school health program are those activities and procedures that contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the health of school children and staff including health services, healthful living and health education. The healthy development of children and adolescents is influenced by many societal institutions. After the family, school represents the second most influential environment in a child’s life. The school is the primary institution responsible for the development of young people all over the world. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
Schools have direct contact with more than 95 percent of the nation’s young
people aged 5–17 years, for about 6 hours a day, and for up to 13 critical years of their social, psychological, physical, and intellectual development. The health of young people is strongly linked to their academic success, and their academic success is strongly linked with their health. Thus, helping students stay healthy is a fundamental part of the mission of schools
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
School health program is geared towards preventing, protecting and improving the health status of the school population to enable them benefit fully from the school system. The school provides a unique opportunity for health education and a means of establishing a firm foundation for the healthy habits of the future adult population of any nation (Federal Ministry of Education, 2006).
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Children spend a considerable part of their life in school and they are exposed to a variety of environmental, physical, emotional and social influences. Accident can occur in the classrooms, playground and on streets when going to school or home. The various types include- Laceration and wound which occur from sharp objects; Fractures and sprains which occur as a result of a fall from a height or from a direct blow. Foreign body in the ear, nose, eyes or throat, for example coin, stone, nuts, beads. Bites and stings from snake or scorpion, dog or human beings. (Clark, 2004).
A significant number of students engage in behaviours that threaten their health, such as unsafe sexual activity, suicide attempts, and substance use (Adolescent Health Research Group, 2003). In particular, students who are failing in education have exceptionally high healthcare needs (Denny, Clark & Watson, 2004). Also health-risk behaviours such as substance use, violence, and physical inactivity are consistently linked to academic failure and often affect students’ school attendance, grades, test scores, and ability to pay attention in class (Federal Ministry of health, 2009).
The prevalent diseases in Nigeria include malaria, malnutrition, measles, respiratory infection, diarrheal diseases and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS. The findings of a recent study of health problems in a secondary school showed that the diseases are also prevalent among students. The study also showed that the health risk factors among students include drug use (32.2%), alcohol (9.6%) and smoking (4.2%). (Federal Ministry of Health, 2006).
The majority of the public schools in Jere are over populated and are located in bushy areas some kilo meters away from the community. Schools located within these areas do not have good drainage which accumulates stagnant water making it a good breeding site for mosquito, grasses grow long and harbour reptiles like snake and other harmful insect. There is no good water supply which exposes the school children to water borne diseases (Observation).
Despite all these problems, only a few schools do have school health centres some of which are not functioning or effective. For this purpose, this study will assess school health program in secondary schools in Jere LGA. There is therefore the need for simple and flexible system that will provide regular collected data that are available for use at the local, regional and national levels.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study is aim at assessing school health program in public secondary schools in Jere Local Government. The specific objectives of the study are:
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
School cannot achieve its primary objective of learning if students and staff are not healthy, school health programme is the most effective means to prevent or reduce risky behaviours and prevent health problems among students and school workers (American School Health Association, 2006). This could be achieved through simple and flexible system that will provide regular collected data that are available for use at the local, regional and national levels.
This study will provide the schools with the knowledge of school health program and its importance. It will guide policy and practice and can serve as a basis for further research. It will also provide available data that can be used at the local, regional and national levels.
1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is delimited to the assessment of school health program in Secondary Schools in Jere local government. These programmes are:
(1) School health education
(2) School health services
(3) Healthy school environment
(4) Physical education
(5) Nutrition services
(6) Health promotion for school staff
1.6 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
School: refers to an institution for educating learners
Health: refers to the ability to perform daily activities
Program: refers to a planned activity
Service: refers to function provided by somebody
School community: refers to all the people living/working within the school premises
School Health Day: refers to a day set aside annually to create awareness on health and health related issues in the schools.