Members of staff the Providence Height Group of Schools, Fagba, Lagos, were offered free medical checkup on their Blood Pressure and sugar level by the school management as part of the activities marking its 30th anniversary.
The medical intervention organized as part of the week long activities commemorating the establishment of the school in 1994 was seen by the staffers and management of the school as very crucial to the welfare of the workers in the school.
Chairman, anniversary organizing committee, Mr. Omotara Michael Adekunle, said all the activities slated for the week are being used to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the school.
According to him, “When I say 30th anniversary I meant anniversary for the secondary school here, and 40th anniversary for the primary school. So, we are celebrating simultaneously, both are doing it at the same time.”
The Principal, Mr. Adesuji John Adesanmi, said beyond seeing teaching as being too stressful that “sincerely we want to know our state of health. High blood pressure can happen at any time. Back in the days they say it can happen to adult only, but these days it can happen to anybody. Blood pressure issue is a sickness that cut across ages. Even the younger ones are talking about blood pressure. What is happening today is enough to give somebody blood pressure. Family issue is enough to give blood pressure. So, blood pressure checkup for our staff is not because of the work load alone. It is good we know our state of health.”
He added that there are other activities slated for the week to celebrate the founding of the school.
“We are having inter-house sports to be the grand finale of the anniversary week. We are having a weeklong activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary. Our primary school is 40 years old this year. On Wednesday we are having a talk show for the students. We have already invited our old students to speak with them. The invited alumni will talk to the students from their area of specialization, those in law, accounting, and engineers among others to come and talk to junior ones. On Thursday we would round off the events for Friday. We have four houses, the blue house, the red house, the yellow house and the green house. We are going to perfect our preparation for the grand finale at the Agege Stadium on Friday,” the principal said.
Mr. Omotara, while explaining what makes the school parents and students’ number one choice, said excellent academic culture is their selling point
He noted that “When it comes to education the school is superb. Ever since I joined the school, the school has always been excellent in education. Like the owner of the school would always say jokingly during his days, that ‘all work without play makes Ade an excellent student’. And in another slogan he would say ‘teach, teach them to the exam doorpost. Teach them till they enter the examination hall’. But students of nowadays don’t read.
“Whatever you are able to impart that is what they would pour back. And all these things are working for us. When we checked our results years back, you see excellent all through it. Go and check our last WAEC results we had 26 excellent subjects out of 27 subjects. That means nearly hundred percent.
“That is our selling point, we have been doing it, and I want to believe that we are doing well. I implore the management of the school to improve more on the welfare of the staff. If you look around here, we don’t have young people. We have aged men that aged but are ready to work. ”
Dr. Isaac Fadele, from Great Hospital, in the course of carrying the medical exercise, said “At least I can see like three or four that their sugar is high. And when the sugar level is that high, the medical implication is that it can lead to comma or any dangerous health issue. As it is that high they need serious medical attention.”
Dr. Fadele added that “If the blood sugar is too low, it is even more dangerous. If it is too low, the person can take coke, eat food that contains carbohydrate like ‘eba’ or can go to the hospital for better medical attention.”
In his recommendation the doctor said that “I suggest this type of medical intervention programme should be held regularly for the staff.”
Mr. Ajibilu Tunde, a teacher in the school, said “BP and sugar level problems are becoming major health issues everywhere. Even if you go to General Hospital today the first thing they will do is to test your sugar level or BP. If the blood pressure is too high or diabetic, they will know how to control it before it goes out of control.”
Mr Tunde said “The medical intervention programme by the school authority is a very good one. More so that BP and sugar level medical challenges are becoming rampant. Hypertension is about blood pressure and diabetics is about sugar level. So, it is a welcome development. Kudos to the school.”
