Hand2Health Initiative
Nigeria
Africa
Bowen University
Project Overview
“Hand2Health: Revitalizing Communities Against Diarrhea,” emphasizes a hands-on, community-driven approach to combating diarrheal diseases. The “Hand2Health” part of the name suggests direct action and personal involvement, indicating that the initiative empowers individuals and communities to take health into their own hands—literally and figuratively and in this case the Ogbomosho community. The phrase “Revitalizing Communities” reflects the broader goal of not just addressing the immediate health concern of diarrhea but also improving overall community well-being and resilience. By focusing on revitalization, it implies a holistic approach that includes education, access to clean water, proper sanitation, and promoting good hygiene practices (which is in line with SDGs 3&6). The name suggests a proactive, collaborative effort where community members play a vital role in transforming their health landscape, making it not just about disease prevention but also about community empowerment and sustainable health improvements. During the course of the fellowship program we will host a series of events (about 3 or more) that will educate people within the community about the importance of hand washing and proper hand washing techniques. We hope to reach about 200 people combined across events.
Project Impact
During the millennium fellowship, our project was able to educate about 2500 children including nursery schoolchildren, primary schoolers and children in the junior and senior secondary schools. We held health education workshops and seminars with them and donated resources which included antiseptic bar soap and liquid soap. We also visited the immunisation clinic at the Bowen university teaching hospital where we had health talks on hand hygiene and the proper way to administer oral rehydration therapy to the babies and under 5 year olds; then we also donated bar soaps to all our attendees.
Next up was one of the local markets, Akande market,; we moved from stall to stall, giving health talks to as many people were willing to listen and engage with us before setting up our canopy and delivering a health talk and a workshop to 5 sets of 28 individuals each. After each session, we gave out bar soaps to the attendees and finally we donated antiseptic handwashing supplies to the market chairman. We are currently working with the local community members to build a portable handwashing basin in the central area of the market to encourage the community members to continue the practice of hand hygiene. We reached far more than the 200-500 people we originally sought to reach via our project.
Millennium Fellows Involved
Chidozie Nnoli, Kolade Faleke, Martha Faleke, Ayomide Abiola, Wuraola Oluwalajiki, Mosadoluwa Afolalu, Favour Ayorinde, David Steve, Akinloluwa Olatunde, Chukwumah Nnoli, Omowenuolami Ogunola, Samuel Jegede, Hannah Ibrahim, Fiyinfoluwa Oginni, Solaoye Okeniyi, Chinyegarum Amah, Eunice Omotomi, Tolulope Odebunmi, Timilehin Mayowa, Leticia Igna-Igboko, Kenechukwu Orakwe, Sharon Babasola, Oluwakorede Layeni, Jojesu Oladimeji, Esther Elufioye, Victoria Taiwo, Paula Ago