THE University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus has benefited immensely since the formation of its Health Reform Society, spearheaded by some of its students.The campus is now equipped with an outdoor eating facility, situated on the lawns of the University near the Small Lecture Theatre; and the George Walcott Lecture Theatre catwalk.

This was the result of an investment of over $200,000 made by the University of Guyana’s long established health bar, which sells juices and sandwiches on the campus.

The society has also been participating in the Crystal Clean competition of the University’s Student Society (UGSS), by which it has been enabled to erect the outdoor eating facility. Moreover, the Health Reform Society recently commenced rehabilitating benches around the campus.

Mario Joseph, Founder of the Health Reform Society, has highlighted that the society would be embarking on a more dynamic educational programme during the new academic semester, and is aiming at a much improved fundraiser than its health bar, hopefully with the addition of Caesar Chicken Salads.

“From our research, this is an item like the pure fruit juices and healthy hot dogs demanded by the campus populace,” Joseph highlighted in a statement.
HOW IT STARTED
The idea of the UG Health Reform Society was conceptualised when Joseph first encountered the ills of certain food items. He recognised that most of the students on campus indulged in improper consumption, and this information, he said, led him to establish a health reform society, spread awareness of the ills of certain food items, and implement better food choices for the campus.

“It is my ambition to influence our policymakers to subsidise the organic industry, and make healthy eating more affordable whilst taxing and regulating more heavily the manufacturing industry that, in raw terms, is killing us slowly,” Joseph said.

With passage of time, he felt the need to initiate a health bar. This idea he took wherever he and 11 other students of the University would dedicate their time and energy in selling students nutritious and healthy food. However, the aim behind the society from the inception was also focused on developing a better form of accommodation for the students. This became a reality a few weeks ago.
The juices are sold at a 30% lower price than the market price in Georgetown. This was successful, said Joseph, because of the supplier contract the society would have signed, and acquired the products at a markedly lower rate than if bought from popular wholesalers.

The society continues to function on the Turkeyen campus of the University of Guyana, and aims to contribute more to the campus in the near future. (Shivanie Sugrim)