Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Junior Secondary 1
Personal, school and community health.
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Personal, school and community health.
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Nigeria 2025 app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Physical & Health Education
Class: Junior Secondary 1
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 1
Theme: Health Education
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list and explain the three determinants of health; list four characteristics of a healthy person; explain the meaning of sewage and refuse; list five methods of sewage disposal; list three methods of refuse disposal; list sources of water supply.
is transported to a designated site (landfill) where it is systematically deposited in layers, compacted, and covered daily with a layer of soil or other material. Modern sanitary landfills are designed to minimize environmental impact by lining the bottom to prevent leachate contamination of groundwater and collecting methane gas.
Pros: Can handle large volumes of waste, relatively inexpensive (especially open dumping).
Cons: Requires large land areas, potential for groundwater contamination (leachate), produces greenhouse gases (methane), eyesore if not well managed.
Nigerian Context: Both sanitary landfills and uncontrolled open dumps are common, with open dumps posing significant environmental and health hazards.
2. Incineration (Combustion): Explanation: Involves burning refuse at very high temperatures (typically 850°C to 1,100°C) in a controlled facility. This process reduces the volume of waste significantly (up to 90%) and can generate electricity (waste-to-energy plants). The ash produced must then be safely disposed of.
Pros: Reduces waste volume, can generate energy, destroys pathogens.
Cons: High capital cost, requires strict air pollution controls (produces harmful emissions like dioxins, furans), ash disposal can be problematic.
Nigerian Context: Not widely adopted due to high cost and technological requirements, but some industrial or medical waste is incinerated.
3. Composting: Explanation: A biological process where organic waste materials (food scraps, garden waste, agricultural waste) are decomposed by microorganisms under controlled aerobic conditions. The end product is compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Pros: Environmentally friendly, reduces landfill waste, produces valuable soil conditioner, improves soil structure.
Cons: Only suitable for organic waste, requires segregation of waste, takes time, can produce odours if not properly managed.
Nigerian Context: Widely practiced on a small scale in homes and farms, and increasingly promoted for municipal organic waste management. 2.
6. Sources of Water Supply Water is essential for life, and understanding its sources is key to ensuring access to safe water.
Common sources include:
1. Rainwater: Explanation: Water collected directly from rainfall. It is generally soft and free from minerals, but can be contaminated by atmospheric pollutants or dirty collection surfaces (roofs, gutters) and storage tanks.
Nigerian Context: Common in rural areas where it is harvested, especially during the rainy season, for drinking, cooking, and washing.
2. Surface Water (Rivers, Streams, Lakes, Ponds, Dams): Explanation: Water found on the surface of the earth. While abundant, surface water sources are highly susceptible to contamination from industrial discharge, agricultural run-off, human and animal waste.
Therefore, they require extensive treatment before consumption. Dams are constructed across rivers to create reservoirs for water storage and supply.
Nigerian Context: Major cities often rely on rivers (e.g., Ogun River for Lagos, Kaduna River for Kaduna) and dams (e.g., Shiroro Dam, Kainji Dam, Eko-Ete Dam) for their public water supply. Many rural communities depend directly on streams and rivers.
3. Groundwater (Wells, Boreholes, Springs): Explanation: Water that seeps into the ground and collects in underground aquifers. Groundwater is generally cleaner than surface water as the soil acts as a natural filter, but it can still be contaminated by deep-seated pollution sources or poorly constructed wells.
Wells: Hand-dug or drilled holes to access shallow aquifers.
Boreholes: Mechanically drilled, deeper wells accessing deeper aquifers, often with a pump.
Springs: Natural outflows of groundwater where an aquifer meets the land surface.
Nigerian Context: Boreholes and wells are extremely common throughout Nigeria, providing water for individual homes, communities, and commercial enterprises. Many communities also rely on natural springs, especially in hilly regions.
4. Pipe-borne Water (Public Water Supply): Explanation: Water that is collected, treated at a central water treatment plant (from surface or groundwater sources), and then distributed through a network of pipes to homes, schools, and businesses. This is typically the safest source of water, provided the treatment and distribution infrastructure are well-maintained.
Nigerian Context: Available in many urban and some semi-urban areas, but coverage and reliability can be inconsistent due to infrastructure challenges. 2.
7. Qualities of Safe Water Safe water (potable water) is water that is fit for drinking and cooking without posing any health risks.
Key qualities include:
1. Colourless: It should be clear and transparent, with no This section provides a detailed explanation of the core concepts of personal, school, and community health. 2.
1. Determinants of Health Determinants of health are the various factors that collectively influence an individual's health status. These factors can be broadly categorised into three main areas:
1. Heredity (Biological Factors): These are genetic factors passed down from parents to their children.
Explanation: Heredity refers to the characteristics, traits, and predispositions that are inherited from one's parents. This includes genetic makeup, which can influence susceptibility or immunity to certain diseases (e.g., sickle cell anaemia, albinism, diabetes, hypertension). While individuals cannot change their genetic inheritance, understanding it can help in managing health risks through lifestyle choices and medical interventions. Nigerian Context
Example: A child inheriting a predisposition to sickle cell anaemia requires careful management, including healthy diet, hydration, and avoiding triggers, to prevent crises.
2. Environment (Physical and Social Factors): This encompasses the surroundings in which an individual lives, works, and learns.
Explanation: The environment includes the physical environment (air quality, water quality, housing conditions, sanitation, climate) and the social environment (family structure, community support, economic status, education, access to healthcare, cultural practices). A clean and safe environment with good social support promotes health, while a polluted or unsafe environment can lead to diseases and stress. Nigerian Context
Example: Living in an area with open drainage and refuse dumps increases the risk of malaria, cholera, and typhoid, common diseases in many Nigerian urban and rural areas. Access to quality education and healthcare facilities also significantly impacts health outcomes.
3. Lifestyle (Behavioural Factors): These are the personal choices and habits an individual adopts.
Explanation: Lifestyle choices include diet, exercise, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, hygiene practices, sleep patterns, stress management, and engagement in risky behaviours. Healthy lifestyle choices significantly contribute to good health and disease prevention. Unhealthy habits can lead to chronic diseases and reduce life expectancy. Nigerian Context
Example: Regular consumption of balanced Nigerian meals (e.g., rich in vegetables, lean proteins), engaging in physical activities like farming or walking, proper handwashing, and avoiding harmful practices like drug abuse are crucial for maintaining good health. 2.
2. Characteristics of a Healthy Person A healthy person exhibits a combination of physical, mental, and social well-being.
Four key characteristics include:
1. Absence of Disease or Illness: A healthy person is free from pain, discomfort, and symptoms of sickness. They rarely fall ill and recover quickly when they do.
2. Physical Fitness and Vigour: They possess good energy levels, can perform daily tasks without undue fatigue, have a healthy body weight, clear skin, bright eyes, and a good posture.
3. Mental and Emotional Stability: They are generally happy, able to cope with stress, have a positive outlook on life, can manage emotions effectively, and maintain good relationships with others.
4. Social Well-being: They can interact effectively with family, friends, and the community, contribute positively to society, and have a sense of belonging. 2.
3. Meaning of Sewage and Refuse
1. Sewage: Explanation: Sewage refers to wastewater generated from homes, schools, hospitals, and industries. It typically contains human waste (faeces and urine), wastewater from kitchens (sinks, dishwashers), bathrooms (showers, baths), and laundries. It is often contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, chemicals, and organic matter, making it a health hazard if not properly disposed of. Nigerian Context
Example: Water from flushing toilets in a typical Nigerian home or school, greywater from washing plates, and discharge from bathrooms are all considered sewage.
2. Refuse: Explanation: Refuse, also known as solid waste or garbage, refers to unwanted or discarded solid materials from residential, commercial, and industrial activities. This includes food scraps, packaging materials, plastics, paper, metals, glass, old clothes, broken furniture, and other non-liquid waste. Nigerian Context
Example: Empty pure water sachets, leftover food, broken bottles, nylon bags, and old newspapers discarded from homes, markets, or schools in Nigeria are all forms of refuse. 2.
4. Methods of Sewage Disposal Proper sewage disposal is vital for preventing the spread of diseases.
Five common methods include:
1. Pit Latrine (or pit toilet): * Explanation: A simple, low-cost sanitation system common in many rural and semi-urban areas. It consists of a This includes food scraps, packaging materials, plastics, paper, metals, glass, old clothes, broken furniture, and other non-liquid waste. Nigerian Context
Example: Empty pure water sachets, leftover food, broken bottles, nylon bags, and old newspapers discarded from homes, markets, or schools in Nigeria are all forms of refuse. 2.
4. Methods of Sewage Disposal Proper sewage disposal is vital for preventing the spread of diseases.
Five common methods include:
1. Pit Latrine (or pit toilet): Explanation: A simple, low-cost sanitation system common in many rural and semi-urban areas. It consists of a deep hole (pit) dug in the ground, covered by a slab or squatting plate, and a superstructure (outhouse) for privacy. Human waste falls directly into the pit, where it decomposes over time.
Pros: Low cost, simple to construct.
Cons: Can contaminate groundwater, emits odours, prone to filling up, not suitable for high-density areas.
Nigerian Context: Widely used in villages and some old urban areas.
2. Septic Tank System: Explanation: An underground, watertight container (typically concrete or fibreglass) that treats wastewater from a home or school. Solid waste settles at the bottom (sludge), while lighter materials (scum) float on top. The liquid effluent flows out into a drain field (leach field), where it is absorbed and treated by the soil. Sludge needs to be periodically pumped out.
Pros: More hygienic than pit latrines, treats wastewater on-site.
Cons: Requires regular maintenance (pumping), can fail if not properly installed or maintained, can contaminate groundwater if drain field is poor.
Nigerian Context: Common in modern homes, schools, and small estates in urban and semi-urban areas without central sewage systems.
3. Pour-Flush Toilets: Explanation: A variation of a pit latrine where a small amount of water (1-3 litres) is poured manually into the toilet pan to flush waste into a pit or septic tank. It uses a water seal (trap) to prevent odours and insects from entering the latrine.
Pros: Improved hygiene, odour control compared to simple pit latrines, uses less water than cistern flush toilets.
Cons: Requires water for flushing, pits still need emptying.
Nigerian Context: Increasingly popular in homes where water is available but full flush systems are not feasible.
4. Composting Toilets: Explanation: These toilets treat human waste by a biological process called composting. Waste mixes with carbon-rich material (e.g., sawdust, wood shavings) and decomposes into a nutrient-rich, pathogen-free compost that can be safely used as soil conditioner. They are typically waterless.
Pros: Environmentally friendly, conserves water, produces useful compost, no need for septic tanks or sewers.
Cons: Requires careful management of moisture and carbon material, may require more user education.
Nigerian Context: Gaining interest in eco-conscious communities and some rural areas.
5. Centralized Sewage Treatment Plants: Explanation: A large-scale system where sewage from an entire community or city is collected via a network of underground pipes (sewer lines) and transported to a central plant. At the plant, sewage undergoes multiple stages of treatment (primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary) to remove contaminants before the treated effluent is discharged into water bodies or reused.
Pros: Highly effective in treating large volumes of sewage, protects public health and environment.
Cons: Very expensive to build and maintain, requires extensive infrastructure, high energy consumption.
Nigerian Context: Found in major cities and planned estates (e.g., Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt), though coverage is often limited. 2.
5. Methods of Refuse Disposal Effective refuse disposal is crucial for maintaining a clean environment and preventing disease vectors.
Three primary methods include:
1. Landfilling: Explanation: The most common method. Refuse is transported to a designated site (landfill) where it is systematically deposited in layers, compacted, and covered daily with a layer of soil or other material. Modern sanitary landfills are designed to minimize environmental impact by lining the bottom to prevent leachate contamination of groundwater and collecting methane gas.
Pros: Can handle large volumes of waste, relatively inexpensive (especially open dumping).
Cons: Requires large land areas, potential for groundwater contamination (leachate), produces greenhouse gases (methane), eyesore if not well managed. * Nigerian Context: Both sanitary landfills and uncontrolled open dumps (from surface or groundwater sources), and then distributed through a network of pipes to homes, schools, and businesses. This is typically the safest source of water, provided the treatment and distribution infrastructure are well-maintained. * Nigerian Context: Available in many urban and some semi-urban areas, but coverage and reliability can be inconsistent due to infrastructure challenges. 2.
7. Qualities of Safe Water Safe water (potable water) is water that is fit for drinking and cooking without posing any health risks.
Key qualities include:
1. Colourless: It should be clear and transparent, with no visible colour.
2. Odourless: It should have no discernible smell.
3. Tasteless: It should be free from any distinct taste, flavour, or aftertaste.
4. Free from Suspended Impurities: It should not contain any visible solid particles, sediments, or floating matter.
5. Free from Harmful Microorganisms: It must be free of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other disease-causing pathogens.
6. Free from Harmful Chemicals: It should not contain toxic chemicals or heavy metals in concentrations that could be detrimental to health.
Community Sanitation Campaigns: The knowledge gained about refuse and sewage disposal can be integrated into school-led or community-based sanitation campaigns (e.g., "Environmental Sanitation Day" in Nigeria). Students can participate in clean-up exercises, educate family members on proper waste segregation, and advocate for better waste management practices in their neighbourhoods, helping to prevent diseases like cholera and dysentery which are common during rainy seasons.
Water Safety and Conservation: Understanding water sources and the qualities of safe water directly applies to household water management. Students can learn to identify unsafe water, practice simple water purification methods (e.g., boiling, filtering with clean cloth), and promote water conservation strategies (e.g., turning off taps, reusing greywater for plants) to ensure access to clean water in areas with scarcity.
Personal Hygiene and Disease Prevention: The concept of lifestyle as a determinant of health directly applies to daily personal hygiene practices. Students can be encouraged to consistently practice handwashing before meals and after using the toilet, proper disposal of personal waste, and maintaining a balanced diet to boost immunity against common infections prevalent in Nigerian schools and communities. This directly links to reducing the incidence of diseases like typhoid and malaria.