an innovative school health project: prevention of ... · this work was the key incentive, ......
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Copyright © eWWG and VR1 Ltd
An Innovative School Health Project: Prevention of Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases
(PADID) Kaduna State Nigeria
Background:
Despite advances and improvements in sanitation, water supply and nutrition more than 15 million
people continue to die each year from infectious diseases. In fact, research conducted by Baylor
College of Medicine, states that ‘infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death
worldwide, after heart disease, and are responsible for more deaths annually than cancer1.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 99% of these deaths occur in poorer
developing countries2. Children under the age of 5 are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases
and account for a disproportionate number of deaths in this group. It is now estimated that by
2020, these diseases will be causing 7 out of every 10 deaths in developing countries3.
The Concept:
Based on these facts, the eWorldwide Group (eWWG) undertook extensive field research in Asia
and Africa to closely examine and understand local behavioural patterns and attitudes towards
sanitation and hygiene that were contributing to these diseases. This work was the key incentive,
for the eWWG to specifically design and develop a unique holistic school health initiative that
focused on ‘Preventing Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases (PADID) in 2011. The overall
strategy provides a ‘holistic’ view of health in the local context of children’s’ everyday life, so that
they understand the critical elements that impact health i.e. sanitation, hygiene, importance of
clean water, good nutrition and a clean environment.
Moreover, interactive teaching techniques were creatively
blended with action based learning exercises to enable greater
understanding of the correlation between these elements. This
unique holistic approach was further enhanced by the integration
of providing practical, sustainable, child friendly sanitation and
hygiene facilities with a supply of water that require low
maintenance and are weather resistant (pictures attached).
To support sustainability and trust at the grass roots level,
PADID is implemented as a ‘cluster’ formed between a local
community ‘Primary Healthcare Centre’ (PHC) and the adjacent
Primary School. This implementation model supports the
transfer of knowledge from PHC to the teachers, mothers and
school children. Subsequently, the primary school students
become ‘community change agents’, and act as ‘community
environmental health ambassadors’ driving a sense of civic
responsibility and awareness toward good social practices.
The PADID concept addresses sustainable development goal (SDGs): 2, 3, 4, 6, 13 and 15 and
builds greater understanding and awareness in the hearts and minds of the young.
The proof of concept was first piloted in Kaduna State, Nigeria from 2013 – 2016 and based on the
positive impact assessment reports, His Excellency, Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has
now committed to fast track the PADID rollout across the State to help in the ‘Prevention of
Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases’ amongst children of his State.
1 Malaria, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases (Briefing Paper) 2 WHO (2014): Health Topics: Infectious Diseases 3 International Journal for Equity in Health - The burden of non-communicable diseases in developing countries
Copyright © eWWG and VR1 Ltd
An Innovative School Health Project: Prevention of Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases
(PADID) Kaduna State Nigeria
Innovative Resilient and Holistic Design of PADID
Innovative child friendly handwashing facility
Copyright © eWWG and VR1 Ltd
An Innovative School Health Project: Prevention of Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases
(PADID) Kaduna State Nigeria
Sustainable hygiene and sanitation facility
Sustainable and robust water supply
Copyright © eWWG and VR1 Ltd
An Innovative School Health Project: Prevention of Avoidable Deaths from Infectious Diseases
(PADID) Kaduna State Nigeria
Recycled water supply to sustain vegetable garden and to teach practically about good nutrition and provide alternative livelihood skills