By Muhammad Amaan
The Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS), an NGO, has trained community health workers in Kano on the Social Behavioural Communication Change (SBCC) strategy.
The training, held on Monday in Kano, focused on raising awareness about Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.
Mr Muhammad Dan’Aro, the state Programme Officer of HANDS, explained that the training aimed to empower health workers to address public health challenges in underserved areas and effectively disseminate crucial health information.
He highlighted that the training was designed to equip health workers with the skills needed to conduct effective door-to-door awareness campaigns on NTDs and WASH.
Dan’Aro acknowledged the significant challenges the state faced in fully eliminating NTDs through WASH initiatives, including poor coordination and information sharing between the WASH and NTD sectors.
He also mentioned the limited capacity among health workers to effectively communicate about NTD-WASH collaboration, as well as low citizen awareness of the role of WASH practices in NTD elimination.
He stressed the need to strengthen existing WASH structures in NTD-endemic communities.
Dan’Aro explained that the NTD/WASH collaboration aimed to sustain the gains made through the PC NTDs approach and emphasise the importance of synergy among relevant stakeholders.
“The project targets communities with low sanitation levels in the LGAs of Karaye, Kiru, Kabo, Madobi, Rogo, Sumaila, and Kura.
“SBCC is becoming a cornerstone in tackling public health issues, particularly in the fight against NTDs.
“By promoting awareness, changing attitudes, encouraging new practices, and sustaining positive behaviours, SBCC strategies are reshaping how communities approach health challenges,” he said.
The Managing Director encouraged the beneficiaries to share the knowledge gained with others and emphasised the importance of taking the training seriously.
