College News · Community Health

Health Education Beyond the Classroom: NCHSM’s Mercy Njeri Outreach

NCHSM Editorial Team · Based on the college’s published report dated 30 July 2026

Health education is not limited to a lecture room. In a two-day community outreach reported by Nakuru College of Health Sciences and Management (NCHSM) in July 2026, staff and students combined youth health awareness, career guidance and environmental clean-up activities around Mercy Njeri.

This article summarises the activities described in the college’s original outreach report. It is an account of the event, not a claim that one outreach alone can resolve the wider health or environmental challenges discussed.

Starting with health conversations for young people

The college reported that the first day included a health awareness session at Mercy Njeri Secondary School. Tutors from different departments spoke with students about mental health, drug and substance abuse, and menstrual hygiene. The programme included a question-and-answer session, giving learners an opportunity to raise concerns and seek clarification.

For health education to be useful, information should be age-appropriate, respectful and practical. Mental wellbeing, menstrual health and substance-use prevention can be sensitive topics; schools and community programmes should create space for questions without shaming learners and should direct anyone needing individual support to an appropriate qualified service.

Connecting career guidance to real questions

The published report says the team also introduced learners to study areas and career pathways in health sciences, technology, business and social sciences. Questions raised included entry requirements, course duration, professional licensing, employment possibilities and further study.

These are valuable questions for any prospective student. Course names alone do not establish professional registration or guarantee a job. Applicants should check the current programme, the examining body and any relevant professional regulator, then ask about practical training, attachment arrangements and the qualification awarded. Our guide to choosing a healthcare training programme provides a checklist for those conversations.

Community clean-up as a learning activity

Alongside the school session, college staff and students participated in clean-up work around the Chief’s Office, Mercy Njeri Centre, nearby roads and the railway corridor. The college report describes activities including clearing overgrown vegetation, collecting litter, tidying public areas and clearing waste from roadside drainage channels. It says the activities continued into a second day.

Clean public spaces depend on more than a single event: regular waste collection, safe disposal, maintained drainage and community participation all matter. Clean-up work should also be planned with suitable protective equipment and attention to traffic, sharp objects, contaminated waste and other hazards. Members of the public should not handle medical or chemical waste unless trained and properly equipped.

Partnership and service

The college’s account notes that the outreach involved management, staff, students, community leaders and partners. It also reports donations of sanitary pads and socks to school learners. These details illustrate how educational institutions can connect learning with practical service while working alongside the communities around them.

Community activities are most useful when they respond to locally identified needs, respect the people involved and are followed by reflection. For students, that reflection can include what they learned about communication, teamwork, dignity, environmental responsibility and the limits of their own role.

What students can take from this experience

• Communicate respectfully: explain health information in plain language and welcome questions without judgement.
• Know your scope: awareness sessions are not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment or individual professional advice.
• Work safely: use appropriate protective equipment and report hazards instead of taking unnecessary risks.
• Learn from communities: listen to local priorities and work with relevant leaders and services.
• Check career claims: verify course entry requirements, award details and professional registration rules from authoritative sources.