Health Enlightenment/Advice Platform Takes Awareness Campaign to Gaa Saka Community, Receives accolades from Community Leaders and participants
A non-governmental organisation, Health Enlightenment and Advice Platform (HEAP), on Saturday organised a sensitisation programme for youths at Gaa Saka Community in the Ubadanwaki Ward area of Ilorin West Local Government.
The event, which focused on improving health awareness among young people—particularly the girl child—covered a range of topics including menstrual hygiene, stages of adolescent development, challenges faced by teenagers aged 15 to 19, and the effects of negative peer influence.
Other key issues discussed included drug abuse and addiction, as well as practical demonstrations on breast examination.
Speaking at the programme, the Coordinator of HEAP, Hajia Kudirat Olubukola, who is also a health practitioner, commended the efforts of government at all levels in tackling health-related challenges. She, however, called on more volunteers to partner with government agencies to further promote health awareness at the grassroots.
Hajia Olubukola noted that since its inception, HEAP has been providing assistance to individuals with health challenges and now plans to extend its outreach to schools across Kwara State, motor parks, orphanages, and other public places. She appealed for collaboration in providing health materials, medical kits, and financial support to sustain their activities.
She also appreciated donors whose contributions made the event a success and urged philanthropists, government officials, and private organisations to support the platform’s initiatives, stressing that “a healthy environment is a wealthy society.”
Some of the invited health workers and community leaders who attended the event described the programme as a laudable initiative that requires collective effort. They noted that many health challenges stem from ignorance and negligence, commending the organisers for addressing crucial topics.
Participants, mostly youths aged between 15 and 18, engaged actively during the interactive session. One participant remarked that the answers provided during the session had enlightened him on some of the common health issues faced by young people.