Kiambu Member of Parliament Machua Waithaka has said that he will provid free medical check-up on eyes and ears in all public primary schools within the constituency.
The legislator while speaking in Mungai Chengecha Primary School in Kanunga village, when he was handing over spectacles to pupils who had sight problems said that during his tour around the school, he noticed some pupils had eye problems. His concerns drove him to sponsor the check-up.
“The pupils were diagnosed and will be wearing spectacles and I have facilitated for the same,” Machua said.
Machua said that there are pupils in different schools in the constituency who have sight and hearing problems which have affected their learning with their parents being unable to take them to hospital due to lack of money.
“The pupils’ health comes first and it begs for concerted effort to help them,” Machua said.
He added that he has drafted a motion which has already been tabled and a debate is ongoing on the floor of the house which urges the national government through the Ministry of Health to develop a national policy on deworming school going children as a crucial part of mainstreaming of healthcare access in the country.
According to Peninah Nduta, school head teacher, few learners ranging from Grade Four to Class Eight who had eye challenges had problems reading and their performances were below average.
“I am looking forward to see the pupils who benefitted with spectacles improve and we have learners who have ear problems, chronic illnesses like asthma, chest issues, epilepsy and if we get a free medical camp it would solve most of our problems,” Nduta said.
She said that the school has learners with mental challenges and has been sending them to assessment centres.
Rose Mwangi, a parent, said that she did not know that her child had an eye problem and only thought that her child was an average pupil.
By Felix Wanderi
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