Empowering Girls Through Health Education

This week we visited a school to inform teenage girls about anemia, reproductive health and healthy nutrition. After planning some fun games and developing an informative poster, it was time to meet the class. A bike ride through breath-taking landscapes immersed in the greenery of banana trees brought us to SMP Negeri 4 Satap Wori, a small school in Lansa village.

As soon as we stepped into the courtyard, we were welcomed by the warm smiles of the students, who were impatient to meet us. In the classroom, around twenty girls aged 12 to 16 were waiting for the lesson to begin, watching us curiously from their wooden desks and seizing every opportunity to bombard us with questions and compliments.

The lesson run smoothly, consisting in a presentation about anemia’s symptoms, causes and threats run by the Wori Community Health Center nutrition officer. The presentation was followed by interactive activities such as crosswords, mystery questions and card games. I was surprised by the curiosity and enthusiasm of the girls, who engaged in every task with the brightest smiles. Seeing them learn how to take care of their health through the activities I organized was extremely fulfilling, making me realize how a simple gesture to spread knowledge can have such a significant impact on the community.

Spreading awareness of anemia treatment and prevention is especially important for teenage girls, as they represent a particularly vulnerable group. Anemia is often caused by unhealthy nutrition habits, even impacting the reproductive health of young women. Yet, this condition is rarely approached within the household, making educational efforts crucial to safeguard girls’ health.

At the end of the lesson, after a lively chat with the girls and a sweet treat for everyone, the students lined up to shake our hands one by one and say goodbye. We ended the day with a plate of rice and fried eggs, tired but satisfied with the work we had done.

As we rode back through the lush landscape, I couldn't stop thinking about how important it is to continue these outreach efforts, making sure that even the most remote villages can have access to health education.