Hi everyone, my name is Uma. I'm a Grade 9 student at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Cotton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram. Our school is amazing, with almost 4,000 girls like me learning and growing every day!
But a little while ago, something worried me. Sometimes, during school assemblies or National Cadet Corps (NCC) parades, girls would get dizzy or faint. They'd have to be rushed to a hospital a whole kilometre away! It just didn't feel right.
I thought, wouldn't it be great if we had a way to care for these minor health issues right at school? Imagine – 4,000 girls, all between 10 and 17 years, feeling safe knowing there's help nearby.
When I talked to my teachers, I learned something incredible. Our school used to have a clinic with two nurses! They'd treat small illnesses, give health advice, and even catch problems early on. It was fantastic! But sadly, during the COVID-19 closure, the clinic shut down.
Now, here's the amazing part! Our school actually renovated a building for a new clinic, thanks to funds from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. But guess what? It couldn't open because there were no doctors or nurses.
That's when I knew I had to do something. I read about a section in the Malayala Manorama newspaper where students could voice their concerns. So, I wrote a letter directly to the Education Minister, Mr. V. Sivankutty. I poured my heart out, explaining how a school clinic would make a huge difference for all the girls at Cotton Hill.
And guess what happened next? They printed my letter! That same evening, I got a call from the Education Minister's office! They even invited me for a meeting the next day!
The next day, I walked into the minister's office with my headmistress, teachers, and Parent Teacher Association president – all amazing women who supported me. We talked about the clinic and why it mattered so much.
The best part? The minister listened! He understood how important it was for our health and well-being. He promised to help reopen the clinic at Cotton Hill, and not just that – he said they'd consider health check-ups for ALL school children in Kerala! Maybe even a health card system!
I was speechless. My little letter sparked something big, something that could benefit girls across the entire state.
Why is this so important, especially for girls? Because every girl deserves to feel safe and healthy at school. We shouldn't have to worry about getting dizzy during assembly or having a minor illness go unchecked. With a school clinic, we'll have nurses who understand our bodies and can help us feel our best. We can focus on learning, playing, and reaching for our dreams, without health worries holding us back.
I was so proud! My little letter, my voice, made a difference for thousands of girls. Having a health clinic at school isn't just about treating bumps and bruises. It's about feeling safe, healthy, and ready to learn. It's about showing us girls that our well-being matters, and that we can make a change in the world around us. And that's something worth fighting for!
