BACKGROUND
NUTRITION & HEALTHY EATING
Performance at school is dependent on maintaining a healthy lifestyle; and vital for preventing non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organisation currently recognises non-communicable diseases as a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Undernutrition causes 53% of infant & child deaths
- 44% of children <5 years are stunted & 29% are under-weight
SANITATION & HYGIENE
Handwashing and protecting water quality are the most influential factors in reducing morbidity and mortality of diarrhoeal disease. In Africa, 4-8% of all disease burden is attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Only 24% of the population has access to drinking water
- Only 13% have basic sanitation services
- The majority (35.6%) practiced open defecation
- 61 million Ethiopians lack access to safe water
BEING ACTIVE
Healthy, physically active kids also are more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful. Physical competence builds self-esteem at every age.
- Improve the health of their muscles, bones and heart
- Develop new movement skills and imagination, and learn about their bodies
- Build self-confidence and cope with stressful situations
- Improve their communication skills, including how to solve problems and make decisions
COMPASS IMPACT
Compass aims to encompass health promotion by focussing on three areas that promotes and encourages healthy living.
- To provide nutritional education to students at the School of St. Yared as a means of increasing school performance and preventing adverse health outcomes in the future;
- To provide simple sanitation interventions that students can practice and spread to their family and community to prevent the spread of communicable diseases; and
- To encourage and educate the students of St. Yared of the importance of physical activity and its benefits both physically and mentally.
