Education Always

Level: JHS, Basic 7  |  Subject: Integrated Science  |  Strand: Humans and the Environment  |  Topic: Human Health

Curriculum reference: NaCCA Basic 7 Integrated Science, Strand 5 (Humans and the Environment). Written from the standard NaCCA topic list. Please check against the curriculum PDF.

1. What is Health?

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
• A disease is a condition that stops the body or mind from working properly.

2. Causes of Diseases

Cause	Examples
Bacteria	Cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis
Viruses	Covid-19, influenza, HIV, measles, hepatitis
Protozoa	Malaria (spread by female Anopheles mosquito), amoebic dysentery
Worms	Guinea worm, hookworm, roundworm
Poor diet	Kwashiorkor (lack of protein), anaemia (lack of iron), rickets

3. How Diseases Spread

• Through dirty water and contaminated food (cholera, typhoid).
• By insects such as mosquitoes and houseflies.
• Through the air by coughs and sneezes (tuberculosis, Covid-19).
• By touching or sharing items with infected people or through body fluids.

4. Prevention and Control

• Wash hands with soap, especially after toilet and before eating.
• Drink treated or boiled water and cover food.
• Sleep under insecticide-treated nets and drain stagnant water.
• Take vaccines on time (measles, polio, tetanus).
• Eat a balanced diet, exercise and sleep well.
• Visit the clinic early and complete the medicine given.
• Keep the environment clean and dispose of waste properly.

5. Personal Hygiene

• Bathe daily, brush teeth twice a day, and keep nails short and clean.
• Wash clothes and wear clean ones.
• Use the toilet and not open defecation.

Remember: Prevention is better than cure. Clean hands, clean water, clean surroundings and vaccines keep us healthy.

Education Always (education.inspiringalways.com). Original notes written to follow the NaCCA Basic 7 Integrated Science curriculum.