ArOY Health Campaign: OCI Foundation to commence annual statewide “ArOY Health Campaign Schools Challenge (AHCSC)” in Anambra State from October 2021; Holds Virtual and Physical Meetings with stakeholders (From 12/6/2021)

All is now set for the introduction of a statewide quiz competition that will help boost engagement with the OCI Foundation’s Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign in Anambra State (the first in Nigeria to roll out the ArOY program). The contest, called the “Anambra ArOY Health Campaign Schools Challenge, (Anambra AHCSC)“, and staged in conjunction with the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC) of Anambra State, will commence with the zonal rounds from October or November of every year, starting from 2021. The PPSSC has SIX zones in Anambra State, and these include Aguata, Awka, Nnewi, Ogidi, Onitsha, and Otuocha zones.

The Quiz Contest is being staged as way to enhance engagement with the Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign, which, in September 2019, introduced anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer teachings into the curriculum of all public senior secondary schools in Anambra State.

The Grande Finale will hold on (or around) February the 4th of every year, a date chosen to coincide with the annual commemoration of the Global World Cancer Day. For the inaugural (2021/2022) edition, the zonal round will start on October 7th with the Nnewi Zone, and end at the Onitsha Zone on October 28. The Grand Finale will hold on February the 4th, 2022 in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State.

In the lead-up to this event, multiple virtual and physical meetings were held. These are all captured below.

Meeting 5:

Physical (PPSSC Headquarters, Awka, Nigeria; Tuesday, September 22, 2021): The fifth meeting was a physical one, and allowed the setting and standardization of questions for the Challenge. It was attended by Mrs Imelda Emeka (the OCI Foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer), Mrs Euchariah Illikah, Mrs Sabina Ndigwe, and Mrs Vivian Onyekwelu.

Meeting 4:

Physical (PPSSC Headquarters, Awka, Nigeria; Tuesday, August 31, 2021): The fourth meeting was a physical one, attended by the representatives of ALL THE SIX ZONES of the PPSSC in Anambra State, along with the officers at the State Headquarters. Also in attendance were Mrs Imelda Emeka (the OCI Foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer), Mrs Euchariah Illikah, Mrs Sabina Ndigwe and Mrs Vivian Onyekwelu.

Meeting 3:

Physical (PPSSC Headquarters, Awka, Nigeria; August 3rd, 2021): The third meeting was a physical one, attended by Mrs Imelda Emeka (the OCI Foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer), Mrs Euchariah Illikah, Mrs Sabina Ndigwe and Mrs Vivian Onyekwelu.

Meeting 2:

Physical (PPSSC Headquarters, Awka, Nigeria; June 25th, 2021): The second meeting was a physical one, attended by Mrs Imelda Emeka (the OCI Foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer), Mrs Euchariah Illikah, Mrs Sabina Ndigwe and Mrs Vivian Onyekwelu.

Meeting 1:

Virtual (Zoom Meeting; June 12th, 2021): The Zoom meeting was attended by A/Prof Chris Ifediora (the Founder and President of the OCI Foundation) and Mrs Imelda Emeka (the OCI Foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer). Representatives of the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), which is the body in charge of senior secondary school education in the State, were also in attendance. they included Mrs Euchariah Illikah and Mrs Sabina Ndigwe. Mrs Vivian Onyekwelu of the PPSSC (Otuocha Zone) is also a member of the planning committee of the contest, which will be expanded ahead of the program commencement. Details and schedules of the contest will be published soon.

BackGround:

The OCI Foundation’s ArOY Health Campaign has been a huge success across Anambra State. It is an anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer initiative that introduced the relevant teachings and assessments into the curriculum of all the 261 public senior secondary schools in Anambra State back in September 2019. A preliminary analysis of a 12-month evaluation study of the program has shown a significant impact, and is due for publication soon. All of Nigeria’s 36 states, and the FCT, are expected to benefit before the end of 2025.