By Maxine F. Kundishora
In an effort to elevate health education in Bulawayo’s schools, Africa AHEAD, with support from the Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with Action Contre la Faim and the City of Bulawayo, hosted the first-ever School Health Club competitions on November 6th, 2024, at the Large City Hall.
The event, themed ‘Embracing Health and Hygiene in Schools’ and funded by Sweden Sverige, brought together learners from 20 schools, representing both primary and secondary levels. This initiative marked a significant milestone for health education in the schools. The competition aimed to showcase the impact of Participatory Health and Hygiene Education (PHHE), with students displaying their knowledge and creativity through performances in drama, songs, poetry and visual art displays.
This first-of-its-kind event received strong support, with representatives from various government ministries in attendance, along with the Guest of Honor, Mr. L. D. Mkwala, the Director of Education Services. Key project stakeholders, local leaders, school staff and learners also graced the event, demonstrating a shared commitment to fostering health education within the school community.
A diverse group of schools participated at the event, featuring performances from secondary schools such as Pumula South High School, Montrose High School, Njube High School, Sobukhazi High School and Emganwini High School. Primary schools were also well represented, including Manondwane Primary School, Nketa Primary School, Mgiqika Primary School, Tennyson Primary School, Hillside Primary School, Henry Low Primary School, Masuku Primary School, Magwegwe Primary School, Hydepark Primary School, Ntabeni Primary School, Hugh Beadle Primary School, Dumezweni Primary School, Ngwalongwalo Primary School and Zulukandaba Primary School.
The School Health Clubs, supported by the consortium from June to November 2024, took center stage, bringing energy and excitement to the much-anticipated event. As the learners showcased their work, the hall was brought to life by an array of colorful poster designs, which brightened the venue and promoted messages of health, hygiene and other cross-cutting themes relevant to the wider school community. The competitions provided a lively platform for learners to demonstrate their understanding of key health concepts, paving the way for the recognition of the well-deserved winners.
In recognition of their exceptional performances, the top three schools were issued awards, with the results consolidated by the adjudicators, who were representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, Arts and Culture, and Local Government. The first-place winners received a floating shield, while the 1st and 2nd runner-up positions were awarded smaller shields.
At secondary level, Pumula South secured first place, while Njube High School and Montrose High School took the 1st and 2nd runner-up positions, respectively. At the primary level, Hillside Primary School claimed the top spot, followed by Hugh Beadle Primary School as the 1st runner-up and Magwegwe Primary School as the 2nd runner-up. Gold medals were also awarded for the best song, poem, drama and poster design.
Some of the winning School Health Clubs receiving their much-deserved awards alongside the dignitaries who graced the event. Photo credit: Africa AHEAD
The event was a success demonstrating the effectiveness of visual and performing arts in communicating health messages. The learners took an integrated approach to raise awareness on vital health and hygiene issues such as water conservation, sanitation, cholera and diarrheal disease prevention, personal hygiene and nutrition, along with other cross-cutting issues like substance abuse, among others.
Notably, the performances on health and hygiene were particularly timely, serving as a driving force for behavioral change, especially in light of the 2023-2024 cholera outbreaks that affected several districts in Zimbabwe. The Guest of Honor, Mr L. D. Mkwala delivering his speech said “As schools, we can take the lead in promoting health and hygiene. Let us not be passive recipients of information but active participants in promoting health and hygiene education to prevent avoidable diseases like diarrhea and typhoid.”
Primary (left) and Secondary (right) learners delivering heartfelt performances to promote health and hygiene education. Photo credit: Africa AHEAD
The importance of promoting health education in schools was further reinforced by the Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Kelton Ncube, one of the competition adjudicators who said, “Engaging communities through schools is one of the key strategies for effective health promotion. Children can easily share what they learn with their families, making this a powerful approach to influencing behavior change.” He further emphasized, “It’s crucial for more schools to have these clubs, as children are highly effective in cascading vital health messages to their parents and communities.”
Furthermore, the captivating performances also demonstrated the importance of nutrition and healthy diets. The emphasis was on the importance of nutrition, especially during the El Niño-induced drought, making it known that good nutrition builds resilience and promotes sustainable long-term health.
The competition was more than just a race for prizes; it also served as an important platform to raise awareness on critical issues such as gender based violence (GBV). Through the performances, powerful lessons on GBV were shared, shedding light on its harmful impact on individuals and communities. The presentations triggered awareness about the prevalence of gender based violence and its detrimental effects, especially on women and children. This was such a timely moment, aligning with the upcoming ’16 Days of Activism Against GBV’, a global campaign aimed at preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
Learners showcase their talents on stage, promoting health and hygiene education through creative performances. Photo credit: Africa AHEAD
In essence, the event served as a powerful reminder that the future of social progress lies in the hands of the next generation. The performing clubs showed the important role young people play in creating safe spaces and challenging harmful social norms, promoting peer support.
It was inevitable to observe that this inaugural event successfully strengthened collaboration between schools, local authorities, partners and the broader community. Even the enthusiasm of the stakeholders echoed the sentiment that “the show must go on,” with hope that more School Health Club competitions will be held in the future.
Impressed by the performances, Mr. Kelton Ncube attested “This is the first time I have experienced such an event in Bulawayo and it should become an annual tradition, expanding to include the wider community. It is crucial for continuity and we hope that all schools participate—not just for the prizes but for the meaningful impact they can have on the health and well-being of the entire Bulawayo community.”
Looking at the broader impact of the event on the health department, Mr. Kelton Ncube added, “This event was not just about celebration; it served as a form of monitoring and evaluation, giving us valuable insight into the current state of health communication in our communities. This will guide us in identifying gaps and refine our communication strategies for greater impact.”
Inspiring hope for the future in his speech, the Director of Education Services, Mr. L. D. Mkwala said, “Once health and hygiene education is implemented across all schools, we can be assured of a cleaner environment and a healthier society within our education system.”
Sphiwe Mpofu, Africa AHEAD’s Project Manager for the Bulawayo Sweden Sveriege funded project, expressed her gratitude, “Special appreciation goes to the Ministry of Education for embracing the School Health Club (SHC) competitions and committing to continue the program beyond the project’s duration. The City of Bulawayo played a vital role in the preparation for the competitions. Without this support, it would not have been possible to hold the event. We are grateful for the provision of the venue, the PA system and the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly throughout.”
Africa AHEAD and partners remain committed to supporting such platforms, ensuring that health education continues to be dynamic, inclusive and impactful. The School Health Club Competitions were a testament to collaborative efforts embracing health and hygiene education to transform communities. Such profound initiatives are not just safeguarding health today, but also laying the foundation for a better future for generations to come.