Health Education
AOC's commitment is to facilitate a relevant and sustainable (locally led) school health education program by training and supporting 90 teachers from 18 primary schools, and implement a youth wise choice program for all grade 9 students from 5 secondary schools in southern Lvea Em.
To train 50 HIV/AIDS community trainers to educate 65% of men and women in 9 communes (25 villages) on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and spread in Lvea Em district.
Project Overview
This present generation of children and young people are a vital link in Cambodia’s growth and development therefore it is essential that during their formative years they learn good health habits and have the knowledge and support to make healthy physical, emotional and relational life choices. A lack of basic health care knowledge in rural areas (80% population) and inappropriate treatment of injuries and illnesses has caused many children and adults to suffer and die needlessly of wholly curable diseases (80% of deaths in Cambodia are due to waterborne diseases caused by inadequate water, sanitation, and poor hygiene practices). The low level of basic skills in the population, low literacy outputs and minimal critical thinking skills demonstrated by students has serious implications. This is compounded by medical and educational systems that are constantly overwhelmed and under resourced. Unless the cycle of poverty, ignorance, fear and corruption is broken Cambodia will remain a country dependant on foreign aid for social and economic survival.
Project Outline
To reduce the incidence of sickness, disease and injury due to preventable causes in children and adults within AOC’s designated area in Lovea Em District, Kandal Province.
Increased the personal responsibility of children and adults in promoting their own health by 70 % of the population in 9 communes within AOC’s designated area
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* By the end of 2010, sixty primaries teachers will be trained and applied the child to child approach in health education in 18 primaries school in Lvea Em district
*At least three groups of student in each school among 18 schools will be formed and apply the child to child approach in the communities in school year 2009-2010
There are 18 primary schools in the Lovea Em district (south) which are arranged into three clusters groups (Seven, six, five schools). AOC initially worked with one cluster group but at the request of the other school principals and with approval from MoH and MoEYS began working with all 3 cluster groups in 2009. The Health Education team will work alongside Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MOEYS) district and local officials, principals and teachers to assist them to implement relevant and appropriate health education into their school programs. This will be facilitated by curriculum development, monthly teachers training (Child to Child methodology), regular field visits for support and encouragement, resources, materials, books and other library materials that will foster the transfer of knowledge and encourage reading. Monitoring and evaluation on teaching practice and student outputs at school and in the community will be an integral part of this program.
Child-to Child (CTC) methodology was developed in UK in 1992 and has been used extensively in the developing world. CTC is a child-centered methodology where the teacher serves as facilitator; instead of teaching children facts about their health it encourages children to take health action for themselves and others. This links school learning with home and community needs and helps children grow to become responsible adults. Because children are encouraged to work together for the good of others, they develop their self-respect and sense of worth. This also encourages adults to value and trust children more. By using this approach, students become health educators to their peers and family members and teachers gain valuable knowledge, skills and experience in student centered teaching.
Project History
For many years Asian Outreach Cambodia has worked alongside the Cambodian Ministry of Health to bring medical care and relief to the people of the rural district of Lvea Em. While access to health care had improved many adults and children continued to suffer and die needlessly from provable sickness and disease.
Moving from a relief to a sustainable development framework AOC and district health officials agreed to work towards implementing a health education program into the local schools. The appointment of a Health Education Coordinator in 2003 (Colleen Banks from NZ) began the journey from health & hygiene lessons at the local Health Centers to the development and implementation of a School Health Education program in 2005. The first priority was to train and equip AOC national staff, then for them to train and equip local school teachers in health/hygiene lessons using student focused methodologies.
How can a team of three reach into over 3,000 households in the difficult to access rural district of Lvea Em. By themselves not at all! But by working alongside local district officials and serving, equipping and supporting local schools through educating and training teachers, facilitating events to raise the profile of students and allowing them to have a voice and be positive message bearers in their homes and communities.
Project Completion – This project is on track for meeting its objections by December 2010.
