Health workshop at Mtakataka Secondary School
Education and preventive care for young women
Focusing on young women’s health: Dr. Chisomo Tumeo visited the girls’ dormitory at Mtakataka Secondary School in March 2023 to educate them about health issues and perform medical check-ups where needed.
The doctor had already performed medical screening at some of our schools in the south of the country last year. The health workshop in Mtakataka was possible thanks to donations and CLS board member Ute Woratsch’s personal contact with Chisomo Tumeo.
Health workshop with Dr. Chisomo Tumeo (right) for the residents of the Uli Baur girls’ dormitory in Mtakataka.
Health workshop: Infectious diseases, hygiene, breast cancer
Education on equal terms: the specialist discussed a number of topics with the young women, from breast cancer to vaccinations.
27 schoolgirls took up the offer. Among other things, they discussed breast cancer, COVID 19, cholera and the importance of good hygiene. Chisomo Tumeo reports: “The education was mainly more of a group discussion. This gave us a good idea of what information the young women already had. Many of them knew quite a bit about COVID 19 and cholera, but only one knew what breast cancer was. We also found that none of them had been vaccinated against COVID 19 or cholera. Why? they had only heard the myths.”
Even though it was only a small group, this screening offer highlighted the importance of good professional education. It took place after the discussion, so that the young women then knew how important the vaccines against these two infectious diseases are and how they work in the body. Chisomo Tumeo also explained where they can get vaccinated for free, if they are interested.
Medical check-ups and hygiene products
Preventive check-ups were offered after the educational discussion. This included audiometry to determine and, if necessary, treat hearing problems and ear infections. Dental check-ups for malalignment; body weight and blood pressure checks were part of the check-up too.
Finally, the students were given buckets and soap to prevent cholera and to generally simplify or promote hand hygiene.
Take good care of yourselves! Medical check-ups for 27 young women aged between 13 and 18 years.
Take good care of yourselves! Medical check-ups for 27 young women aged between 13 and 18 years.
Rabson Mpinganjira, former headmaster of the Christian Liebig Secondary School near Blantyre (pictured far right), accompanied Chisomo Tumeo. Mr. Mpinganjira is spending his retirement near Mtakataka Secondary School. Having worked with him as headmaster for many years, we value his opinion highly and he sometimes supports us in organisational matters or helps with the evaluation of offers like this one.
He is very much in favour of conducting this kind of professional education on a regular basis, so that there is a sound understanding of health and hygiene in the long run.
Photos: Chisomo Tumeo, Rabson Mpinganjira.
Please support us with your donation. Education changes lives.
