HEALTH CAMPAIGN

                                     .The year 2008 kicked off with a bang, with the 5^th batchers organising a health campaign for the people of Kampung Bujang. The campaign was held from 2.30 to 5 pm on the 5^th of January 2008 in the village hall. The students organised and put up 5 booths for display, the categories being:

1.                  Women’s health

2.                 Paediatric health issues

3.                  communicable diseases

4.                  Non – communicable diseases and

5.                  adolescent health problems.

In the women’s health division, the ladies were taught to administer the self breast examination, with the students using mannequin to demonstrate. Besides this, the women were educated on the procedures of how PAP smear is done and were shown pathology specimens of breast and cervical cancer.

The paediatric booth dealt with the proper hand washing techniques as well as attempted to educate the children on healthy diet habits. Meanwhile, in the communicable diseases area, students educated the curious villagers on STD’s and even distributed condom samples to those who wanted them. The non – communicable disease people dealt with the usual diseases of hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes.

The adolescent health booth stole the show. They really rocked the day, having one of the students walk around dressed like a cigarette with a ‘TAK NAK’ poster hanging around his neck. They even had a beat- up motorcycle to demonstrate the end result of being a Mat Rempit. But the real deal came when one of the students acted as a wasted junkie, in an attempt to relay the message that ‘Drugs can destroy your life, SO STAY CLEAR OF IT!’

With all this going on, the students took the time to design and create their own posters and pamphlets to distribute to the people.

On the day of the campaign, the hall was jam – packed with people who quite openly ogled at the colourfully decorated booths. The hall was abuzz with activity as the students for certain booths called out the names of the lucky winners of various quizzes. No expense was spared to ensure that the day was a success and this was quite apparently written on all the faces of the villagers as they entered the hall, already clutching the door - gifts that had been prepared for them.

Towards the end of the day, the people filed out of the hall practically glowing with pride that they had won the attractive prizes put out for display for the lucky draw, and for those who were not that lucky, it was ensured that no one left the hall empty – handed. The day came to a close with the villagers leaving the hall excitedly talking about the gifts they had won from the draw and the booths.