Tsakani – Health professionals from Pholosong Regional Hospital visited Buhlebemfundo Secondary School on Friday to relaunch the Dr in My Classroom outreach programme.
The programme, initially launched in 2019 and suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions, is a deliberate intervention tool used by the hospital to bring awareness and address matters of mental health, suicide, learner pregnancy, bullying and substance abuse among high school learners.
Through it, Pholosong Hospital brings young doctors and other health professionals to the school, hosting peer-to-peer conversations to empower and instil confidence in the youth to make good choices about their health and futures.
This programme is hosted weekly on Friday mornings.
“Since your last visit to our school, our pregnancy statistics have dropped drastically, meaning the learners learnt something from that engagement.
“Thank you for such an initiative. Your team is the best. You outdid yourselves. Please, keep changing lives, Bapholosi,” said Joy Mthethwa, the HoD of life orientation at Tholulwazi Secondary School, one of the schools visited.
Addressing the signs and symptoms of depression is an area of great concern for schools. The team reminded the learners that it’s okay not to be okay, and encouraged them to talk about what bothers them instead of ending their lives.
An additional core objective of the team is to form relationships between various entities, including hospitals and schools, health workers and the community, and offer support, particularly to the life orientation teachers who are the first to encounter the adverse effects of the topics discussed.
ALSO READ: CoE invites public comment on draft by-laws
ALSO READ: SANBS stocking up ahead of school and Easter holidays
