Health awareness initiative targets orphanages

AMMAN — Organisers of a local campaign have launched a hands-on educational and reward initiative at orphanages to promote environmental awareness and dental hygiene among 200 orphans.

Mona Naffa, director of the Monaco Business Development, the creators of the Jordanian Healthy Habits Campaign, said on Saturday they decided to work with orphans after finding out that oral and dental hygiene is "neglected" at orphanages, according to a statement from the initiative. 

More orphans will be targeted if the team secures more funds from local sponsors, the statement said.

The campaign educates young Jordanians, and their mothers and guardians on using simple skills to deal with trash and personal hygiene. It was launched at the beginning of the year. 

Organisers sought the assistance of a private dental clinic in Amman to run dental and oral health examination and education at local orphanages, the statement quoted Naffa as saying. 

Researching the issue further, they found "alarming statistics" showing low sales of tooth brushes and toothpaste throughout the country.

“In addition to the need for more dental awareness, there was a request by most of the orphanage houses for recycle and environment awareness education,” said Naffa.

The Healthy Habits Campaign includes two aspects in the training. 

One is a hands-on training component and support for teachers. The other is several months of education for young people and their guardians, which ends in two months. 

At the end of May, a reward is offered to those who complete the educational phase successfully, with a "fun day at the Dead Sea which includes team building, sports, and a healthy lunch", the statement said.

The team will engage in additional rounds of funding to support more children after summer and the reward to follow in October/November, with the campaign ending December 2016.

Naffa and her team said they are grateful for the assistance of their partners and corporate sponsors who are investing in Jordan’s youth.  

“We only fail if we don’t try. Together we can make a difference and it all starts with educating our youth one child at a time.”