IMPACT OF THE ROLE OF HEALTH EDUCATORS DURING PILGRIMAGES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Prior to 1975, Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia organised and paid for their trips privately while Christian pilgrimage to Israel was unknown. But that position changed with the establishment of a Muslim Pilgrims Board by the Yakubu Gowon military government in that year. Five years later, in 1980, the Shehu Shagari civilian government ensured there was equal treatment of the two dominant religions of Islam and Christianity by establishing a Christian Pilgrims Board. These two dates set the stage for the allocation of vast amounts of public funds and other resources for the promotion of Muslim and Christian pilgrims to so-called holy sites in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome. Pilgrimage is defined as a journey undertaken for religious purposes. It is therefore supposed to be a private affair because faith, which is the basis of religion, is a matter of the individual heart. In total disregard of this principle, Nigerian governments have taken it upon themselves to fully or partially pay for these trips and to subsidise the cost of the foreign exchange needed by pilgrims for their upkeep in the holy lands. Health education has been described as a process by which individuals or groups learn to behave in a manner conducive to the promotion, maintenance or restoration of health (Saha A, Poddar E, Mankad M (2005). Communication in relation to health education involves various modes, e.g. lectures, discussions, symposia, posters, public address, and radio and television messages. Each mode has its own merits, drawbacks and scope of effectiveness. Messages may also have to overcome communication barriers (e.g. physio­logical, psychological, environmental and cultural). The effectiveness of a particular mode of health education varies according to the setting in which it is delivered, to a specific group (Nishtar S et al; Werner RT Sr, Wilson JM. (2016). It has been observed that different methods may be especially suitable for different groups of people depending upon their age, sex, educational qualification, background and the nature of their employment. The Hajj has become the epicenter of the mass migration of millions of Muslims of various ethnic diversities. No other mass gathering can compare in scale or in regularity. The preparedness plans made before the Hajj season ensure the optimum provision of health services for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, and have been set up to minimize disease transmission both during their stay in the country and upon their return home (Memish ZA (2010). Health education is one of the principal services provided for pilgrims from their arrival. Health education of pilgrims, through the Health Education Ambassadors (HEA) programme, which was launched as an innovative approach in 1428 AH (2007 CE), is one of the principal activities supporting those plans. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with abundant human resources. An understanding of health educators in Nigeria would be of importance to other countries of the world that may require or use pharmaceutical workforce from Nigeria. Moreover, Nigeria is one of the countries that supply health workforce to North America, UK, and Canada, among others. (Alkhatee F.M, Clauson K.A, Latif D.A, Al‑Rousan R.M., 2010). The profession and practice of health education did not start in Nigeria as a well‑defined health care area of specialization as it is today. Rather, pharmaceutical training was borne from the necessity to provide assistance to expatriate medical officers. A number of developments have taken place since 1960 in the education, legislation and practice of pharmacy in various areas, including industry, hospital, and community. (Erah P.O. 2013). However, due to increasing knowledge and understanding of the drug-related needs of the populace, corresponding efforts are being made to match the paradigm shift in the curriculum development and pharmacy education that would yield the desired competencies.