The initiative funded by the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), a sub-regional institution responsible for health-related issues, was jointly implemented by the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) of the Ministry of Health alongside the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Held under the theme; ‘Empowering Adolescents and Young Girls to Rise Through Hygiene Promotion’, the move forms part of two Ministries’ efforts meant to nurture and enhance good hygiene practices especially among adolescents and young girls.
In an interview with The Point, Kalepha Kandeh, Regional Health Promotion and Education Officer in the Upper River Region, acknowledged the importance of the exercise especially for the target groups.
He noted that Peer Health Educators played a crucial role in advocating and influencing change in society and that ‘if you target students at the schools where they gathered every day, hygiene promotion at that level will undoubtedly enhance learning.’
“So, this training is very important especially for this target group as it will enable them to learn and practice the knowledge gain with colleagues at their various schools and by extension in their wider communities.”
Kandeh maintained that what they are advocating as far as good hygiene is concerned is change and to change others.
“Health cannot go in the absence of good hygiene and when you talk about hygiene, we look at personal hygiene, food and environmental hygiene. So, if you take care of these three areas, it will definitely enhance your health. And if you are healthy, you will be able to do whatever a living person can do.”
To that end, he encouraged participants to be steadfast during the exercise and be ready to share the knowledge gained with their peers and parents to be able to promote good hygiene in the country.
Babou B. Cham, Directorate Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry, emphasised the importance of the initiative, which he said, was designed to expose adolescents and young girls in communities to rise through hygiene promotion.
He spoke of his Directorate’s resolve to empower people with the right information, pointing out that students as agents of change are key in bringing about positive change.
Masanneh Jallow, Life Skills Unit at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE), while thanking donors and the Ministry of Health for the initiative, revealed that some of the issues discussed are the right words that the participants need in terms advice to be able to promote good hygiene in the country.
“So as participants you need to know personal, food and environmental hygiene. If you know these areas of hygiene, it would significantly help you implement the concept in your various schools and even in your homes.”
He spoke of his Ministry’s resolve to raise awareness on good hygiene in schools irrespective of their surroundings, further calling on all to play a part in promoting good hygiene in communities.
“We believe that if you cannot take care of yourself, no matter what, you will not be able to get the health and wellbeing required. Also, if you don’t take care of the environment, the environment will not be able to take care of you.”
He pointed out that as human beings, living in a conducive environment is key to our survival, as the latter helps us breath good air and do other things.
“So, if the environment is not healthy, then the people will not be health too.”
To this end, Jallow acknowledged that peer health educators are key in amplifying positive message and influencing the minds of their colleagues and thus challenged them to be instrumental in sharing the key information gained from the event.
