Teachers from across Vihiga County have been urged to prioritise their mental and physical health as a free medical camp gets underway ahead of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
The medical camp, which began on September 27 and will run until October 5, is being held at the Vihiga County Commissioner’s headquarters under the motto, “Twawaenzi Walimu, Mashujaa Wetu.” The national World Teachers’ Day celebrations will be held at Kasarani in Nairobi on October 5.
Vihiga County Director of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Evelyn Chemjor, said the medical camp had been organised to enable teachers to assess their health status and receive information on maintaining their overall wellness.
“We are screening teachers basically for body temperature, body mass index, blood pressure, sugars and also their mental health, whereby for mental health we have a psychiatrist who is talking to the teachers because we know that for teachers to be productive, they first have to be healthy,” Chemjor said.
She said the medical camp was part of activities lined up ahead of World Teachers’ Day, adding that teachers had participated in five- and 10-kilometre runs at the regional level in Kakamega on Sunday, September 27.
She said winners of the races were awarded to recognise their efforts and encourage participation in activities that promote teachers’ health and wellbeing.
“Tomorrow we will have a tree-planting exercise, and then on Thursday, October 1, 2026, we will converge at the region in Kakamega for TSC Open Day, where we will have presentations in areas like innovation and creativity and even have choir and drama activities,” Chemjor said.
She added that teachers found to have health concerns during the medical camp would be referred to hospitals and other appropriate health facilities for further examination and treatment.
Chemjor said the TSC also has a wellness division at its headquarters where teachers experiencing mental health challenges can seek assessment and, where necessary, be referred to health facilities for treatment.
She noted that treatment for eligible teachers is covered by the government through the Social Health Authority (SHA).
One of the medical practitioners participating in the camp, Annette Mutesa of Erin Medical and Wellness Centre in Chango, Vihiga County, said the facility specialises in psychiatry and mental wellness.
She said the centre provides services including stress management, depression and anxiety management, mental wellness support, drug addiction interventions and assistance to people affected by alcohol abuse.
Mutesa said the facility participated in the medical camp to promote SHA accreditation and create awareness among teachers about mental health, anxiety, stress management and related conditions.
“When we received an invitation from the County Commissioner, we came gladly to talk to teachers on the importance of mental health, mainly,” Mutesa said.
She encouraged teachers to undergo regular health check-ups and seek professional help whenever they experience persistent stress, anxiety or other mental health concerns.
Mutesa observed that teachers, like other professionals, can experience mental health challenges and urged them to be open about their experiences and seek assistance without fear or stigma.
She said early identification and treatment of mental health concerns could help teachers maintain their wellbeing and remain effective in their professional and personal lives.
The medical camp is targeting teachers from all sub-counties in Vihiga and forms part of the county’s preparations for the World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
A teacher at Chanzeywe Comprehensive School in Vihiga Sub-County, Curren Ameda, who attended the camp, said teachers had received valuable information on the importance of monitoring their health.
“We have also managed to undergo several tests that have shown us if there is any need for proper and further treatment, where we have been referred to hospitals and clinics in the county,” Ameda said.
She noted that teachers often have limited time to visit health facilities because of their demanding schedules, making such medical camps an important opportunity to undergo basic health checks.
Ameda said teachers had also been encouraged to look out for one another by paying attention to changes in their colleagues’ behaviour and wellbeing.
She said teachers should be willing to check on colleagues who appear to be struggling and encourage them to seek professional help when necessary.
By Florence Oteng’o and Yvonne Misango
