PUBH8475 - Implementing Health Programs in School and Workplace

This discussion post explores the implementation of health programs in school and workplace settings, drawing a parallel between the two as environments where individuals spend a significant portion of their time and are receptive to information. It uses the example of malaria prevention in Namibia, particularly among children, to illustrate how programs can be tailored for each setting. In schools, the emphasis is on educating children about malaria symptoms, encouraging teachers to observe students, and potentially implementing vaccination programs. The strategy involves establishing school clinics equipped to treat basic ailments like malaria. In workplaces, the focus shifts to educating parents about malaria symptoms in their children and providing resources like treated nets. The post suggests supplementing workplace education with leaflets to reinforce the information. The aim is to reduce the incidence of malaria and the need for rural residents to access distant medical facilities, which they are often unable to do.

Running head: SCENARIO 1 1
Scenario 1
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

SCENARIO 1 2
Scenario 1
Access to appropriate medical services is imperative to aid people to remain in good
health status. Nevertheless, rural residents frequent fail to access clinical services because of
various reasons. One of the main barriers is transportation issues. It is important to note that
malaria is a common disease which affects people. Specifically, in Namibia, the ailment is
prevalent in children. It is, therefore, significant to ensure implementation of health programs to
mitigate the disease. In school settings, children ought to be enlightened in regards to the various
malaria symptoms. School children should be encouraged to report headaches, muscle and joint
aches, fever, vomiting, extreme weakness and nausea.
Subsequently, teachers have to be urged to observe various symptoms of malaria in
students. It will be vital since not all students are able to perceive that they are sick. Particularly,
teachers should pay more attention to very young pupils. Nonetheless, students should be taught
to abstain to avoid other sicknesses like the sexually transmitted ailments (Wilson et al, 2009). In
workplace settings, parents would be taught the diverse malaria symptoms to note in their
children. Moreover, they have to be taught the various ways to help steer clear malaria.
In the same note, health programs concerning malaria would be different in school and
workplace settings. In school settings, children can be vaccinated against malaria. Additionally,
this would ensure that they do not get the ailment. Therefore, vaccination would reduce the need
to go to hospitals as the residents in rural areas are faced with the challenge of transportation. In
workplace settings, workers can be given treated nets to use in their homes. The chances of
getting malaria among the Namibian school children would greatly decline.
The suitable strategy in school settings would be to ensure that each school has a
clinic. The clinic has to be equipped with all necessary equipment to aid in the treatment of basic

SCENARIO 1 3
ailments more so malaria (Bodenheimer and Pham, 2010). In workplace settings, the relevant
strategy would be providing additional resources like leaflets to emphasize to the parents what
they have been taught in regards to malaria.

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References
Bodenheimer, T., & Pham, H. H. (2010). Primary care: current problems and proposed
solutions. Health Affairs, 29(5), 799-805.
Wilson, N., Couper, I., De Vries, E., Reid, S., Fish, T., & Marais, B. (2009). Inequitable
distribution of healthcare professionals to rural and remote areas. Rural Remote
Health, 9, 1060.