SHADE-IN sensitises the people of Aba-Ebira community on the need to stay healthy

The 16th of December, 2017, was another day to remember for residents of Oke Agbe II, Ofiyin Village, Off New Iyin road, Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State, also known as Aba-Ebira, as Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) achieved one of her objectives which is neighbourhood transformation through health by organizing a health/medical exercise in the community.  SHADE-IN realises that health is a core component of community development.

The aim of the programme was to sensitise the members of Aba-Ebira community on health and safety and, to enlighten them on the symptoms and effects of high blood pressure and the need for regular medical checkups. The whole exercise lasted for two and a half hours. SHADE-IN collaborated with Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) Ekiti State, who were involved in the sensitisation exercise and mobilised their doctor and other medical practitioners. Free medical checkup was conducted for community members and free drugs were administered to some members of the community who were sick. At the end of the health exercise, members of the community expressed their profound gratitude to SHADE-IN for their kind gesture in ensuring their good health.

Prior to this exercise, similar health and medical outreaches have been carried out in the community in different areas, some of which are mentioned below:

On the 21st of February 2015, Saving Hand Development Initiative (SHADE-IN) community volunteers embarked on a general sanitation exercise in the community. The sanitation commenced as early as 6am in the morning with activities such as sweeping, cutting of grasses, etc. This was immensely appreciated by members of the community.

On 22nd August, 2015, a health awareness outreach was held to educate and enlighten the elders, youth and children on health related topics including personal hygiene, malaria prevention and cure, stress management and other illnesses. Medical tests were conducted on community members and their animals by SHADE-IN team which include: Blood pressure, HIV, typhoid and malaria. Their goats and dogs tested were free of any disease. Malaria drugs and multivitamin drugs were given to some of them after the examination.
About 70 people were in attendance comprising community members, neighbours, SHADE-IN team and NCCF representatives.

Similarly, on the 18th of December, 2013, SHADE-IN carried out a one-hour health awareness campaign in Aba-Ebira community to sensitise them on how to stay healthy.  A total of about 43 people were present in this exercise. The health talk was anchored by Favour (one of SHADE-IN's community volunteers). She started off by saying that health is wealth, and that the importance of health to humans cannot be over emphasized. She told the members of the community to practice a sense of hygiene in their day to day activities such as cooking, eating, washing, etc.

She mentioned the importance of covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing so as to prevent the spread of germs. She illustrated with projected images showing ways of covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.

She stressed on the issue of defecating around the environment and the dangers it poses to them. She explained how faeces flows into sources of water during raining season and when such happens the water becomes contaminated. If such water is drunk, it causes diseases such as cholera, typhoid, etc. She adviced parents to discourage their children from defecating around the environment, and the need to make use of the available toilets. Illustrating with pictures she pointed out better ways of defecating.

Furthermore, she emphasised the issue of having portable drinking water, stating that they should keep their water clean irrespective of the source of water. The containers in which the water is kept, should be clean. She also stressed on the need to separate containers used for bathing from those used for drinking.

Finally, she spoke on the advantage of keeping the environment clean. She said dirty environment breeds mosquitoes which proliferates the spread of malaria. She pleaded with the community to keep the environment clean by removing stagnant water so as to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.

Some results of these health/medical outreaches include:

• There is a significant improvement on how they care for and clean up their surroundings and toilet. 
• Their toilet is consciously being kept clean through the village policy of everyone taking responsibility to ensure this.
• They now have a routine of cleaning up their environment every morning.
• The members of the community have began to wear cleaner clothes.
•  The programmes have changed their attitude towards our mission positively and made them more open to the initiative.
• There is positive change in their spiritual lives in terms of their passion for God.
• More members of the community, especially the youths have began to join us in our fellowships.

Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is one of SHADE-IN's strategies. It is geared at ensuring the total well-being of members of her host community. The afore-mentioned activities focus on the physical well-being of the indigenes of Aba-Ebira community. SHADE-IN understands that only a truly healthy community can experience suatainable change.