TO highlight the importance of health and hygiene, Al-Rowad International School, Jeddah, recently took the initiative to organize a hygiene and cleanliness awareness program for their students, especially those in the higher grades. “We want to promote awareness on the importance of hygiene; it doesn't mean that they don't know about cleanliness and hygiene, it's just that we want to give them a chance to understand more and give the opportunity to ask any questions they may have regarding the matter – they can ask the doctor directly,” said Seham Dildar Khan, the event organizer. “We want to teach them the value of the maid, who keeps the residences and schools clean and also appreciate their mothers efforts to keep the surroundings clean, for that we taught them practically by letting higher grade students clean their classes,” Khan explained. The health education committee under the supervision of the Ministry of Health organizes a community health compulsory program for government schools and for international schools on request, said Dr. Amna Munshi, a trainee at the health education committee, during her presentation on hygiene and cleanliness. She told Saudi Gazette that according to the education program, the health education committee are sending doctors and people related to the Health Ministry to schools and that this program is especially arranged for lower grades, because it's very important to teach them good and healthy habits. “It's very important to teach the small children about cleanliness, especially washing hands, after and before the meal and any work; in our program, students learn all this in front of us or a doctor on how to keep themselves clean. That's not all: we are also giving them a special folder, which includes games, stickers and other material through which they can learn and enjoy,” said Dr. Muneera Balahmer, the head of the health education department of premium health care in Jeddah Health Ministry. “Our program is especially for lower grades, but if any school wants it for higher classes, we can provide special health education programs for higher grades, as Al-Rowad did,” she explained. Dr. Amna Munshi also explained that they modified their lectures on the latest need or requirements for a healthy environment, with pictures and models instead of just speaking – “Most of the time the students themselves ask different questions related to their problems or the information they need. Through interaction with the students, we teach them about hygiene and health issues,” said Dr. Munshi. She explained to them the means for personal hygiene, food and drinks hygiene, cleanliness of the environment, healthy behaviors, how to maintain the hygiene of sensitive areas, proper disposal of body waste, oral hygiene, keeping an eye on what they are eating, the reasons of hair fall, scalp disease and causes of infections. “We learn many things from today's lecture on keeping ourselves, the environment and surroundings clean, whereby self cleanliness is most important from a health point of view. I think it's good to have such programs in schools with students, so if they don't know anything or if they don't know how to deal with any issue, they will be aware of it,” said Nada Ahmed Albais, a student of grade 9. Another student, Nadin Mohab, also said that such programs, which are related to the health of older girls, are good in the sense that they can learn many things, which sometimes parents even don't know or can't explain, so it's more helpful to talk to doctors to get the best information. Other students including Dalia Nabin, Aseel Ayma and Yasmin Kussad also appreciated the knowledge and information they received from Dr. Munshi and said that it's ideal if they can learn more values and importance of such issues from a doctor, who can answer all their questions and satisfy them. The school staff appreciated the inclusion of health education in their activities and they proposed future involvement of their girls in community services, like visiting the charity institutions or cancer patients to raise their awareness regarding risky behaviors like shisha and smoking.
