an innovative school health project: prevention of ... · this work was the key incentive, ......

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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




Innovative Resilient and Holistic Design of PADID

Innovative child friendly handwashing facility




Sustainable hygiene and sanitation facility

Sustainable and robust water supply




Recycled water supply to sustain vegetable garden and to teach practically about good nutrition and provide alternative livelihood skills

an innovative school health project: prevention of ... · this work was the key incentive, ......

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