Prospective Students and Parents

Student Health

The Student Health Service consists of a team of missionary nurses and physical therapists working in association with a school physician to provide 24 hour–a-day routine and emergency health care for the approximately 500 students of Rift Valley Academy. Student Health Service utilizes the Student Health clinic, the Kijabe Hospital and any special services required in Nairobi (ophthalmology, C.T. scans, MRI’s, etc.) to meet the medical needs of our students.

The Student Health clinic (the infirmary) is a twenty-bed facility situated in the center of RVA’s campus. It is designed to provide a place for students to rest and recover from illness away from the dorm. Two treatment/ exam rooms are used for procedures such as casting of fractures, suturing, physical exams, etc.

The Kijabe Hospital is a 206-bed facility located less than a kilometer from RVA campus. The hospital provides services in dentistry, general medicine, pediatric medicine, general, pediatric and orthopedic surgery, and intensive care.

Physical exams and immunizations are carried out at specific intervals throughout a student’s career at RVA. The following immunizations are routinely updated:
Oral Polio: every 10 years
Tetanus: every 5 years (normally Diphtheria/ Tetanus)
Measles/ Mumps/ Rubella (MMR): on enrollment if no record of 2 previous injections over age 12.
Yellow Fever: every 10 years as required for international travel.
Hepatitis B series: Series of 3 injections: 0, 1 month, and 6 months.
Physical exams are carried out during a student’s 4th grade, 8th grade and 12th grade years. If you are going on home assignment, we will be happy to supply a copy of physical for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade students, otherwise you will need to schedule physicals for your child.

All charges for medical care are billed to the parents through the school bill. Major or costly medical care (orthodontic work, glasses, elective surgery, etc.) will not be undertaken without permission from parents including agreement to pay for all costs involved. For scheduled major medical care involving a student being treated off of RVA’s campus (elective surgery, dental surgery, inpatient treatment at Kijabe or other hospital), the parent or guardian is required to be present with the student during procedure and recovery phase of care. In case of emergency, care will be provided by Student Health staff and other necessary staff as needed until parents or guardians are reached.

The following items are required for return to RVA after furlough, school vacations or other extended absence:

Copies of any medical exams or treatments done while away from RVA.
Updated Immunization record.
Complete and accurate contact information for parents and guardians.

Our goal is to provide a healthy environment in which our students are able to thrive spiritually, mentally, and physically at RVA. With this goal in mind, the staff of Student Health Services works diligently to invest in the lives of our students. We believe that health care goes beyond the diagnosis and treatment of physical disease. Health is often best promoted by a hug, a smile or a listening ear.

We encourage you to e-mail us with any questions or concerns you may have. Our e-mail address is: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Communication with parents is a key to keeping our students healthy.

Student Health Policy 8.38 Kb

Malaria Information Choice Form 119.59 Kb

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