Health education training

21.07.2011- Mercy Ships health and hygiene educators hope a little fun will help patients remember that washing their hands may be a matter of life or death.

In a nation where one in five children won’t live until the age of five, an off-ship Health Education Programme was designed for departing patients in Sierra Leone.

A preventative approach promotes an understanding of hygiene, nutrition, causes / treatment of diarrhea, basic first aid, malaria prevention and common diseases such as measles.

Informal demonstrations and activities teach skills.  Fun, laughter and an interactive approach motivate patients to listen and learn.

In the hand washing session, the presenter dips his hands in flour, then touches objects and shakes patients’ hands.  White-powdered handprints show how far germs can spread when people forget to wash their hands. 

The fun escalates as patients wet their hands, plunge them into a large bowl of flour and leave white handprints on colored paper.  Then a good scrub with soap and water at the tap removes the half-dried flour mixture while a rousing song reinforces the activity. 

Positive communication and interaction helps patients remember the lessons. Hopefully it may even help save the life of a loved one at home!