Africa Child Foundation has embarked on ‘healthy schools programme’ through which pupils and teachers are taught how to identify some non-communicable and chronic diseases as well as manage each condition.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency on the sidelines of a trainer’s workshop in Mponela on Monday, coordinator for the project, Buxton Mpando, said the foundation through medical consultants carried out research on the knowledge of non-communicable and chronic diseases which found that learners in primary schools lack information in this area.
Mpando added that the programme is equipped with information and knowledge about the diseases and how to train pupils and teachers on the same through social media platforms.
He said the programme would engage Ministries of Education, Health and other stakeholders in development to carry out awareness in public and private education institutions with priority on institutions having pupils and teachers with identified cases on chronic conditions.
Mpando further said the Foundation has commenced the programme with a training of trainers workshop where 15 trainers recruited from health and social work backgrounds as volunteers will be trained by a medical doctor and two public health specialists.
One of the trainees, Chimwemwe Malekeza, said most youths have been sidelined when dealing with chronic diseases, adding the training will help them impart knowledge to students and teachers in schools to be aware of chronic diseases.
Africa Child Foundation was founded in 2018 as a non-governmental organisation that focuses on child development in the areas of nutrition, health, education and women empowerment.
The healthy schools programme will commence with phase one from 2023 to 2027 in the central region districts of Kasungu and Lilongwe
