High School Wellness Talk with LLB

Your health and wellness, come first

Let me say hello to my high school learners and students. It gives me so much pleasure and honour to speak to you about wellness, health and hygiene.

When I was a high school learner at Lereko High School in Batho, Bloemfontein, opportunities were slim of us having people like mentors and facilitators come to our schools to guide and to give us information, especially in matters of health. If there were, such tutorials were few and irregular.

But now you are so fortunate to have this occasion with me. I am going to be your friendly “Sister’ in this field. And I invite you to read my articles religiously every week from now on. I also invite you to write to me for further discussions and engagements. Your parents are encouraged to speak to me too. This friendly invitation goes to my learned colleagues as well. Let us guide the world into a healthy state of well-being. Together.

So, here goes. Let us start with some definitions.

HEALTH

What is health?

Definition

Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity (World Health Organization).

Three Dimensions of Health

 There are at least 3 of these:

• Physical health
• Mental health and
• Social health

So let us look at these dimensions closely…

1. Physical health:

This refers to the proper functioning of the body and it’s systems. It is maintained by taking a balanced diet, having adequate sleep, engaging in regular physical activity and seeking medical care when needed. A person should maintain a balance to the above mentioned requirements, if not, the body becomes predisposed to poor functioning and illness.

2. Mental health:

A state of emotional and psychological well-being. A person should be able to cope with normal life stresses, work productively, realize one’s cognitive and emotional ability. Any deviation

from the said standard is classified as mental illness.

3. Social health:

The ability to build fulfilling relationships and to interact effectively with other people. The sbility adapt to social situations and and to feel a sense of belonging in the community. The society has specific agreed upon standards that it sets for it’s people and these become a norm. If people don’t live according to those social norms, it is said they are deviating from the normal social behavior and various stigmatizing names are given to them.

Every person is classified according to the three health dimensions and they have an impact in your learning outcomes. If a learner has a challenge with any of the said dimensions, they need to be addressed so that they can achieve learning to the best of their abilities. The School Health Program is helpful in such situations, as well as the educators and parents.

HYGIENE

What is hygiene?

Definition:

Hygiene refers to the set of practices and conditions maintained to promote health and prevent the spread of diseases (Cambridge dictionary).

KEY TYPES OF HYGIENE

Personal hygiene:
Daily habits that keep your body clean and healthy, e.g. washing your hands, showering, and brushing your teeth.

Environmental and Food Hygiene:
Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, safely storing food, and following regulations to avoid contamination.

Medical/Clinical Hygiene:
Procedures used in healthcare settings, such as, sterilizing equipment, and disposing of medical waste, to prevent infections.

Many diseases and conditions can be prevented or controlled through appropriate personal hygiene, and by regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. In this column, you’re going to learn more about health and hygiene so as to empower yourself with knowledge that will help you to stay healthy. The healthier you are the less chances of losing your school days.

Cheers. Stay healthy, clean and of sound mind.

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