The Department of Public Health, McPherson University, recently organised a health education and community outreach programme at Anglican Primary School, Seriki Sotayo, as part of its commitment to promoting healthy living and preventive healthcare among primary school pupils. The outreach was led by the Acting Head of Department, Dr Abosede Obadina, alongside Dr Josiah Odu, with staff and students of the department in attendance.

The programme commenced with a health talk on personal hygiene delivered by Adjokatse Praise, who enlightened the pupils on the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene to prevent infections and promote overall well-being. The interactive session featured practical demonstrations and encouraged the pupils to adopt healthy habits in their daily lives.

Speaking on environmental hygiene, Daramola Temiladeoluwa explained the concept of the environment, identified different types of environments, and educated the pupils on practical ways of keeping their surroundings clean. This was followed by a presentation on food hygiene by Airebamen Oluwatobiloba Emmanuel, who stressed the importance of consuming safe and hygienic food, washing fruits and vegetables before eating, drinking clean water, covering food properly, eating well-cooked meals, and keeping eating utensils clean.

The outreach also featured an extensive session on hand hygiene. Afolabi Fathia educated the pupils on the importance of handwashing and the appropriate times to wash their hands, including before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, after playing outdoors, and after handling pets. Sanni Grace demonstrated the basic handwashing procedure, while Akinpelu Esther and Nwosu Faith led a practical demonstration of the seven recommended steps for effective handwashing.

As part of the outreach support materials, two Veronica buckets, liquid soap, and writing materials were donated to the school to support hygiene practices and enhance learning among the pupils. In addition, a banner illustrating the step-by-step handwashing procedure, designed by Eko Simon, was presented to reinforce proper hand hygiene practices.

Further reinforcing the message, Chidueme Abundance and Adebanjo Teniola highlighted the health benefits of regular handwashing, explaining that it helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases, promotes good hygiene, and reduces school absenteeism. The outreach concluded with an engaging handwashing jingle performed by Crown Celestina and Negbenosa Benita, leaving the pupils with a memorable reminder of the importance of proper hand hygiene.

The outreach programme provided an opportunity for the Department of Public Health to extend health education beyond the classroom, equipping young learners with practical knowledge and skills to adopt healthier lifestyles. The initiative further underscores McPherson University’s commitment to community engagement, health promotion, and preventive healthcare through impactful outreach programmes.