–as part of earning degree

THE THIRD-year Social Work students of the University of Guyana (UG) is hosting a health fair at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara as part of their assignments in earning their degrees.

The fair will run for five (5) weeks, thus enabling members of the community to access free health services during that period.

The theme of the fair, which attracted scores or residents of all age groups, is: “Keeping a healthy body, promoting nonviolence”. There were various booths set up all across the venue Saturday, including those set up by representatives from the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA); the National Aids Program Secretariat (NAPS); Guyana Red Cross Society; and by doctors and dentists.

Among the services offered during the health fair were dental care – extraction and filling – HIV testing, blood pressure tests, and TB testing. Serious injuries that cannot be handled at the fair would be referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

One of the coordinators of the health fair, Ms Teshia James, told the Guyana Chronicle that in efforts to host the event, the students decided to give back to citizens a pre-medical health care which consists of various testings and checkups. She urged citizens to take good care of their health, and to do regular body check-ups, since there are lots of diseases and other sicknesses which an unchecked body can contract. She noted that every individual must put their health first, because without proper health, there is very little that can be achieved.

The GRPA’s booth focused on contraceptive methods. The team also had the services of the GRPA family planning organization on display. The GRPA has its youth clinic, which would be ongoing every last Friday of every month from 1-3pm, and that organization is urging the public to come out and participate in the clinic.

A package for young individuals, consisting of Body Mass Index [BMI], blood pressure and blood glucose information could be picked up at the GRPA office.

The National Aids Programme Secretariat was doing HIV testing and counseling; the Guyana Red Cross Society was teaching folks on how to use a first aid kit, and a dental booth was focusing on extraction, fillings and cleaning of teeth.

(By Asif Hakim)