A cross-section of parents, guardians, and teachers have called for posting of health workers to Abia State public schools to handle any medical emergencies.
They said such posting had became necessary following the rise in registration sequel to the ongoing transformation of the schools by the Alex Otti administration in the state.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the state capital, they argued that the presence of the workers would be another dimension in the ongoing transformation.
Douglas Enyinnaya, a parent from Ozuitem in Bende local government area is of the opinion that having sick bays in the schools is inline with what is obtained in developed climes.
According to Magdalene Okere, a guardian the presence of the worker will give him confidence that her wards will be taken care of if they fall sick during school hours.
Aham Uchenna, a father of an asthmatic pupil in the capital noted that the presence of the worker will give him much hope „that my son is in safe hands while in school“.
In a reaction, a primary school teacher in Aba, who pleaded anonymity explained that it will be a big relief to the teachers to have health workers in the schools.
She said that during school hours, teachers not only teach the pupils, but are also expected to handle the sick when the need arises even though they are not professionals.
„So, with the presence of a professional health worker, the danger of escalation of an emergency will be very minimal. This need can‘t be overstressed,“ she added.
