Healthcare education is not just beneficial—it’s essential for nurturing healthier communities globally.
SOS Children’s Villages has made significant strides in this area across many of our programmes, including the implementation of two projects, one on oral health and one on sexual and reproductive health, that have impacted thousands of lives in Botswana and in Tanzania.
Access to health education: A global issue
Healthcare education is a pivotal factor in shaping the futures of children and young people worldwide.
In relation to oral health, did you know nearly half the world’s population suffers from oral diseases, with children being significantly affected?
The World Health Organisation emphasises that tooth decay is the most common non-communicable disease, affecting individuals from early childhood. This highlights the importance of oral healthcare education in preventing diseases that have life-long impacts on health and wellbeing.
Similarly, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) highlights the critical need for sexual and reproductive health education among adolescents. With 20,000 girls under 18 giving birth daily in developing countries, and complications from pregnancy and childbirth being the leading cause of death among adolescent girls, the need for comprehensive education and access to reproductive health services is stark.
These figures not only reflect the health risks associated with early pregnancy but also the broader implications on education, poverty, and rights, illustrating the intersectionality of healthcare education with broader societal issues.
By focusing on these areas, we are not simply addressing immediate health concerns but are also combating the underlying factors that contribute to global health disparities.
Investing in healthcare education equips young people with the knowledge to make informed decisions, fostering a generation that is healthier, more educated, and empowered to break cycles of poverty and disease.
Brushing up on good oral hygiene
Our Oral Health programme in Botswana, run as part of Mars Ireland’s ‘Chew for Change’ campaign, helps promote good dental hygiene.
The programme addresses the widespread issue of poor dental health, which affects 60-90% of children globally.
The ongoing annual programme aims to educate 16,000 children each year about good dental hygiene, equipping teachers, caregivers, and health personnel with the necessary tools and knowledge.
The campaign has run in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages for over a decade in a variety of Nordic countries. Since expanding to Ireland, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages UK, the campaign has raised €40,000 through purchases of Extra chewing gum.
You can learn more about this life-changing campaign here.
Breaking taboos to build positive futures: empowering Tanzanian youths on reproductive health
The importance of Sexual and Reproductive Health education cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in protecting young people from a wide range of issues, from gender based violence to unplanned pregnancy.
To this end, our Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Training Programme in Tanzania, funded by The Mercury Phoenix Trust, aims to address urgent concerns and educational needs in relation to these crucial areas of health in Tanzania.
With over one-third of Tanzania’s population under 24, and high rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education is crucial.
Surpassing our original goal of reaching 1,000 young people during the one-year project, the project reached over 2,500 individuals, demonstrating the considerable demand for this initiative and its importance.
Our localised action plan, established in partnership with local community workers, education officers, and authorities, adheres to Tanzania’s Ministry of Health guidelines, ensuring a culturally appropriate approach.
Collaboratively, we trained peer educators to deliver lessons on HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health rights.
Notably, our outreach has led to an impressive 70% reduction in pregnancies in seven out of the eleven target schools.
At SOS Children’s Villages UK, our belief is simple: every child deserves a chance to grow up in a safe, caring family environment.
By investing in healthcare education, we’re providing the crucial life-skills children and young people need and are helping shape a healthier, more resilient future for children, families and communities.
