By Najib Sani, Gombe
In a concerted effort to improve community health outcomes and bridge the gap in hygiene education among vulnerable populations, Al-Mufeed Community Health Support Initiatives, a frontline non-governmental organization based in Northern Nigeria, has launched a grassroots sensitization campaign across Islamic learning centres (Tsangaya schools) in Bauchi State.
The intervention which is part of Al-Mufeed’s broader community health outreach framework is tailored to address critical public health challenges in low-resource, non-formal educational settings where children often lack access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and basic health knowledge.
The campaign, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), focused on raising awareness about hygiene, disease prevention, and safe environmental practices among students and clerics in traditional Islamic schools.
Led by the Executive Director, Suleiman Abubakar Ahmad, the Al-Mufeed team carried out sensitization visits to the Sheikh Kabiru Yakubu Arabi Islamic School in Bauchi metropolis and the Malam Hussaini Islamic Centre in the Gwallagar Mayaka community—both of which serve large populations of at-risk and underserved children.
“We recognize that many of these children are cut off from mainstream health education,” Ahmad said. “Our mission is to ensure they are not left behind in acquiring life-saving knowledge that can protect them from preventable diseases and health risks.”
Our correspondent reports that the outreach activities included; demonstrations on proper hand-washing techniques using clean water and soap, education on water purification and safe drinking habits and training on environmental sanitation and waste disposal.
Instructors and caregivers at the schools were also trained to reinforce health messaging during their regular teachings, thereby promoting sustainable behavior change within the learning communities.
The Executive Director called on relevant government ministries especially those of Health, Education, Water Resources, and Humanitarian Affairs—to recognize and support the inclusion of non-formal education settings in national health policies and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programming.
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