• Events

Rehoboth Private reaches out

The Grade 10 Learners of Rehoboth Private School visits the Paediatric Ward of the St Mary’s Hospital, Rehoboth
The Rehoboth Private School holds the belief that for one to gain new understandings and appreciations they are to engage in intellectual and affective activities in order to explore their experiences.
Therefore, the school took the initiative to visit the St Mary’s Hospital in our small town, Rehoboth, on the 29th of June 2017.
The grade 10 learners (a total of 11 learners) of the school visited the Paediatric Ward of the Hospital where we met up with Sister Trudy, who has been in the nursing profession for 32 years. She started off by giving us a warm welcome and took us through the ward step-by-step.
She explained that the Children’s Ward is a special ward within the hospital where children from birth up to 12 years of age are admitted.
The ward consists of three staff members and varies from between 12 and 28 children weekly. During the night, only one nurse does the rounds to attend to the possible needs of the children. The staff does everything to make the stay of the child comfortable and pleasant as possible.
Sister Trudy showed us the Isolation Rooms of which there are only two. These are for children with infectious diseases such as measles or for children who are in need of Phototherapy. She went on to explain that most deaths are caused by Diarrhoea and Nausea, Lung infections, and Malnutrition, of which malnutrition is the prevalent cause.
Sister Trudy further on explained that the Children’s Ward has its own separate kitchen where their food is prepared. This is mainly because children have special diets they have to follow consisting of all types of vitamins (cooking oil, sugar, multi-vitamin powder, water and milk). They receive sponsors mainly from Germany. . It is advised that children stay in a room with children their own age. The hospital promotes parental participation, because it leads to fast recovery and a feeling of safety of the child in a foreign environment. Parents are provided with health education and are expected to be involved as they are at home.
It was a great pleasure for the learners to engage with the little ones at the ward where they played, sang songs, read out of the Bible and handed over toys and some snacks which put a smile on their angel faces.
A heartfelt appreciation must be shown to the staff of the ward, because they take care of, support and guide children, so they feel safe and secure. Some of the girls in the grade 10 class offered their services to the ward to help where there is a need.
Helping with reading a book to children, helping with getting children dressed and washed or feeding the children. This was a desirable gesture. The hospital endeavour to offer child-friendly facilities and quality medical care possible to all children admitted. The visit was closed off with taking photos and playing with the children while they are enjoying their snacks.