The Breathe Life Foundation has sensitised more than 200 senior secondary school students in Lagos State on respiratory health, highlighting the importance of prevention and early awareness in reducing exposure to factors that can affect lung health.
The respiratory health education session was organised for students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, in partnership with Teach Nigeria Fellow, Ms Bunmi Rotimi. The programme focused on equipping students aged between 15 and 19 with practical knowledge about respiratory diseases, their common triggers and measures for protecting their health.
The foundation identified dust, smoke, air pollution, tobacco smoke, allergens and other environmental irritants as factors capable of worsening respiratory symptoms and increasing the risk of breathing-related illnesses.
During the session, the students were also educated on the potential health implications of smoking, vaping and shisha, with particular attention to the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes.
The initiative placed emphasis on prevention, encouraging students to recognise environmental and behavioural factors that could affect their respiratory health and to make informed decisions about activities that may expose them to harmful substances.
The engagement also underscored the importance of introducing health education to students while they are still in school, particularly as young people may encounter increasing exposure to tobacco and nicotine products through social environments and digital platforms.
For secondary-school students, such programmes can provide an opportunity to move beyond conventional classroom learning by connecting health knowledge with everyday decisions and personal wellbeing.
The foundation’s intervention also highlights the role schools can play in promoting preventive health education. By giving students accurate information about respiratory health and common risk factors, schools can help young people develop healthier habits and recognise situations that may require medical attention.
The programme further demonstrated the value of collaboration between educational initiatives and organisations working in public health. Such partnerships can provide students with practical health information that complements their formal education.
The respiratory health awareness session forms part of broader efforts to improve health literacy among young Nigerians, particularly through early education on preventable health risks.
With air pollution, tobacco exposure and other environmental irritants remaining concerns for respiratory health, sustained health education in schools could help students better understand the relationship between their environment, lifestyle choices and long-term wellbeing.
