St Louis 2002, 2003 year groups remodel school sick bay into clinic

The St Louis  past students association (SLOPSA) has expanded and refurbished the school's sick bay to adequately and efficiently serve the growing student population.

The project, jointly initiated by the 2002 and 2003 year groups, has been redesigned and expanded the facility  to significantly improve healthcare delivery and to serve the growing student population.

It  now passes for a community clinic as it has been upgraded to have  more room for about 20 beds, other ancilliary services such as air-conditioning, an isolation/special ward, a dispensary, consulting room, and nurses’ offices, a nurses’ station, as well as a modern medical equipment unit.

It cost ghc550,000 and was wholly funded by members of these two year groups who also put their professional expertise as architects, engineers and project managers at the disposal of the project.

Lasting symbol of gratitude

The two year groups said the project was their legacy project, celebrating with a Thanksgiving Mass before the official commissioning and handover.

The nurses’ work station

Project Lead, Dorcas Adu Amoako, described the initiative as a powerful demonstration of unity and purpose, noting that it was inspiring to see women from diverse professional backgrounds come together more than two decades after graduation to support their alma mater.

She said apart from volunteering their professional expertise, members of the year groups contributed to provide the financial resources, a gesture she said was driven by a strong sense of gratitude and commitment to the school that shaped them.

“The project cost about GH¢550,000 and commenced on March 4, 2023.

Construction was completed within a year, followed by furnishing and equipping over the next six months.”

“We all understand the importance of having a functional sickbay.

When we considered how best to give back to the school that shaped and prepared us for our lives today, the majority supported the sickbay project.”

“All professionals from the 2002 and 2003 year groups brought their expertise to bear on the project, which we consider crucial to the school community.

Student enrolment has expanded from about 900 in our time to over 5,000 today, yet the school has continued to rely on the same sickbay facility.”

“Importantly, every member of these year groups willingly contributed financially to ensure the timely and successful completion of the sickbay.”

“For us, the expanded sickbay stands as both a vital healthcare facility and a lasting symbol of gratitude, unity and the enduring legacy of St Louis past students,” Ms Adu Adomako stated.

Critical intervention

The Headmistress of St Louis Senior High School, Ama Kyerewaa Benefo, on behalf of the school management, expressed deep appreciation for the intervention, describing it as timely and critical in light of the school’s rapidly increasing enrolment.

Mrs Benefo expressed hope that the project would motivate other year groups to engage with the school’s growing needs, emphasising the importance of sustained collective support amid rising student numbers.