Quality Life Project

The aim of Quality Life Project is to teach students important aspects that add to our daily quality of life; having a healthier future; as well as what to do in emergency situations.  

The Quality Life Training Project has a fifty page A4 manual to enable us to teach a comprehensive course with small groups of students at a time.  Students in these groups will benefit greatly from concentrated discussions as well as, one on one practical training and observations.  At the end of the course participants will be assessed to make sure they fully understand what they have learned, should there be any person who has not quite grasped any aspect of the course, it will be reiterated to them.  
Although unfortunate, there is no doubt that it is easier to get further in life if you have some kind of reference therefore we feel it is important that after successful assessment, all participants receive a certificate of attendance.  They will have something that proves they are willing to learn, capable and knowledgeable in a variety of topics.
As well as receiving their set of gloves and CPR mouth piece, participants take the manual home with them for further perusal or to use as a quick reference guide.  
We also keep an in-depth log of contact details so we can monitor participants later, on how being part of the Quality Life Training Programme changed their life and how it enables them to better their circumstances and the circumstances of people around them.  The course curriculum covers a great deal in each of the following topics:

Personal Hygiene


Personal Hygiene is more than just being clean.  It is defined as the many practices that help people be and stay healthy.  Participants will learn that practicing good personal hygiene is very important.  The project teaches participants that they, themselves can help prevent people from catching and spreading illness and disease.  Apart from the illness aspects, personal hygiene helps people feel good about themselves and their bodies.  In society today, cleanliness is an important issue; poor hygiene is now seen as unacceptable and unhealthy.  Participants who have learned to practice good personal hygiene will find it easier to find work for instance as well as finding it easier to be embraced into society
Covered in this subject are the following:

  • When to wash your hands   
  • Body odour – and controlling it  
  • Basic skin care – as well as acne and treating it; makeup
  • Hair – head lice and dandruff
  • Foot problems – funguses/Athletes foot
  • Teeth – brushing/flossing; decay/cavities; gum disease; bad breath   
  • Ears
  • Nails
  • Genital care for females
  • Washing the genital area – as well as what not to wash
  • Be sure to wipe properly – dangers of not doing so
  • Take extra care during menstruation
  • Cystitis and Thrush
  • Be aware of what to wear – for women (genital areas)
  • Genital care for men
  • Keeping the genital area clean


Sexually Transmitted Diseases


It would seem that Sexually Transmitted Diseases are becoming a part of daily life in Namibia.  This is mainly due to individuals being unaware and uninformed.  Not knowing what the signs and symptoms or the dangers of an STD are, people often brush it off as a passing thing that will miraculously disappear and continue going about their usual business.  Participants learn about the truths of STD’s and we will discuss the emotional and moral issues that go with this topic.
Covered in this subject are the following:

What are STD’s

  •  How do you get STD’s
  • What to watch out for
  • What should you do if you think you have an STD
  • What can happen if you don’t get treated
  • You can protect yourself against STD’s


HIV and AIDS


It is of common belief that constant visual bombardment can desensitise us.  In Namibia and other African countries, having posters on HIV in many places and having numerous HIV adverts on television can sometimes desensitise people to the subject at hand, people tend to get bored and simply stop paying attention.  This can be detrimental to a nation such as ours.  During the course of the Quality Life Training Project participants will learn about HIV in a comfortable environment as we discuss each topic, participants are also encouraged to ask questions.  Topics are explained in detail; not only will participants benefit from our teaching on a smaller scale but will also reap the benefits of our group discussions.   


Covered in this subject are the following:   

  • What is HIV an AIDS
  • Sexual transmission
  • Abstaining from sex  
  • Being faithful to one partner
  • Transmission through blood
  • Mother-to-child transmission
  • How can you not get HIV
  • Why should I get tested for HIV
  • So when do you use a condom
  • Where can I get condoms
  • How can I check a condom is safe to use
  • Is using a condom effective
  • Reasons to use condoms
  • How can I persuade my partner that we should use a condom – confidence tips
  • How do you dispose of a used condom
  • If you are positive
  • Why educate HIV positive people
  • What do HIV positive people need to know
  • Talking to partners and families
  • Education to challenge discriminations
  • HIV positive people supporting each other

Food Hygiene


It is very important to teach participants about food hygiene for themselves as well as their family and friends.  Many people suffer from illnesses related to poor food hygiene simply because they are unaware of good hygiene practices.  We explain normally difficult to understand aspects of food hygiene in simple, understandable terms.
Participants will learn that food hygiene is all the practices involved in:

 

  •  Protecting food from contamination
  • Preventing bacteria present on food from multiplying to the level where illness occurs and/or premature spoiling of food
  • Killing any harmful bacteria in the food by thorough cooking

 

Covered in this subject are the following:   

  • What is food hygiene
  • Causes of food poisoning
  • What is cross contamination
  • Raw food practices
  • Storage of raw food – especially meat and poultry
  • When preparing raw food
  • What are bacteria
  • What do bacteria need to grow
  • Warmth
  • Food and Moisture
  • Time
  • Salmonella
  • Cross contamination
  • Prevention of Salmonella Poisoning
  • Staphylococcus Aureus
  • The 10 main reasons for food poisoning
  • The chain of food poisoning
  • Cleaning and waste disposal in the workplace; Pests/controlling




HIV and Nutrition


Nutritional care and support promote well-being, self-esteem and a positive attitude to life for all people, but even more so for those living with HIV/AIDS and their families.  Participants learn that healthy and balanced nutrition should be one of their goals, HIV positive or not and with the knowledge they learn, participants can better care for others; negative or at all stages of HIV infection.  Familiar foods make us feel safe and secure.  Food reminds us of our childhood, home country and culture.  We celebrate events by eating special foods in the company of people who are important to us. When we eat well, we feel well.  Good nutrition is also vital to help maintain the health and quality of life of the person suffering from AIDS.                              

 

Covered in this subject are the following:

  • Healthy and balanced nutrition for growth, work and play
  • Enjoying a variety of foods
  • Eating staple foods with every meal
  • Eating legumes if possible every day
  • Eating animal and milk products regularly
  • Eating vegetables and fruit every day
  • Using fats and oils as well as sugar and sugary foods
  • Drink plenty of clean and safe water
  • Storage of drinking-water
  • Increasing intake of vitamins and minerals
  • Cooking and storage of food – also a recap
  • Keeping active and stay fit
  • Relationship between good nutrition and HIV/AIDS
  • Coping with the complications of HIV/AIDS
  • Diarrhoea
  • Preparing an oral rehydration drink
  • Lack of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sore mouth or when eating is painful
  • Try to avoid these foods
  • Coughs; sore throats; fever

 

Cholera


Cholera is affecting more and more people everyday now and not only in rural areas either.  Participants learn how to identify cholera by being made aware of the signs and symptoms associated with this unpleasant illness.  They will also learn the dangers facing them should they contract Cholera.  


Covered in this subject are the following:

  • What is Cholera
  • What are Cholera symptoms
  • How does a person get Cholera
  • What should travelers do to avoid getting Cholera
  • Is a vaccine available to prevent Cholera
  • Can Cholera be treated

 

Tuberculosis                                                                                                                                                    

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that causes TB.  Namibia reportedly has the second highest rate of TB cases in the world after Swaziland.  In the Quality Life Training Program participants will learn to identify sings and symptoms of TB, enabling them to take action sooner rather than later.  Realising the effects, treatment can be sought promptly curbing the spread of TB.              

Covered in this subject are the following:

 

  • What is Tuberculosis
  • What are Tuberculosis symptoms
  • How does a person get Tuberculosis
  • Tuberculosis prevention
  • Treatment of Tuberculosis

 

Malaria                                                   

As we know, Malaria in Namibia is mainly found in the Northern areas of the country, although it has also been reported in the central region and occasionally in the South.  Even if living at the coast, most Namibians have family in the Northern areas an visit these areas often.  Malaria can be serious and fatal decease without prompt treatment.  As with TB, participants will learn to identify signs and symptoms of Malaria, enabling them to seek treatment promptly or help others by having the knowledge to advise family and friends to seek treatment promptly.

Covered in this subject are the following:

 

  • What is Malaria
  • What are Malaria symptoms
  • How soon will a person feel sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito
  • Who is at risk
  • How can Malaria be prevented
  • How is Malaria treated



Basic First Aid                                            

 

More and more people in Namibia are suffering heart attacks, strokes, epileptic fits and many people each year are involved in car accidents.  The skills learned in this project will teach participants to save lives in an emergency situation.  If a father of five, the bread winner, suddenly has a heart attack and is simply left unattended because bystanders are uninformed on what to do, we would have an entire family that could have been spared a tragedy and spared their loss of family income.  The same could happen in an accident; due to being uninformed people can do more harm than good.  In car accidents the victim could be pulled out of a car immediately resulting in paralysis, possibly from the neck down, making their suffer quality of life not what it should be.  In burn cases, people have been known to put Vaseline or oil on the victim’s injury, disfiguring them for life.  If any one of us was involved in a serious accident, we would take comfort in knowing that the individual helping us, was confident, knew what he was doing, not making our situation worse for life.                                         

Covered in this subject are the following:   

 

  • Medico-legal aspects of first aid
  • Emergency numbers
  • Safety of the first aid assistant and scene
  • Primary survey
  • Recovery position
  • CPR (Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation)
  • Shock
  • Choking
  • Heart attacks
  • Wounds / controlling bleeding
  • Burns
  • Dressings and bandaging