Final year students of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, Osun State University, Ikire campus on Saturday extended their ongoing public health campaign to Oosa community in Irewole local government area of Osun State.
Under the auspices of Development Communication, the students sensitized the people of the community about public health, how to maintain proper hygiene and approaches to disease prevention.
Addressing the community, one of the students, Miss Bukola Akintokun reiterated the benefits of cleanliness, saying prevention is better than cure and that malaria can only be prevented through proper hygiene.
“It is our responsibility to take a very good care of our health and ensure that we keep our environment clean. Cleaning of our hands with soap and water is very necessary after we are done with recycling of waste product. We have to do this before using our hands to eat or touch our face,” Bukola added.
Also speaking, Miss Ogunjimi Itunu cleared the air on women health challenges. She implored the community leaders and stakeholders to care for their females. Itunu stressed the need for menstrual hygiene, proper use of sanitary towels and cautioned against self medication.
According to her, “the issue of menstruation should be taken seriously during this time and age. We have the responsibility to care for our female child. Sanitary towels should be made free and sufficient among the females.”
The graduating class of 2020 also tasked the people of Oosa on safe water consumption and taught them how to treat water to make it safe for consumption. Thereafter, the students magnanimously distributed bucket water dispensers, packs of water guard, sanitary pads, detergents and several other materials to the people of the community to keep them and their environment safe and healthy.
Reacting to the gesture, the people of the community, via their traditional leader, Chief Raufu Kareem appreciated the students and appealed to the state government to extend developmental projects to their town.
The well attended event lasted for three hours and had in attendance, Mr. Victor Adefemi, a lecturer in the Department and several other stakeholders within and outside the community.
