UG Medical students forming doctor-patient bonds
─ through hosting annual health fairs
─ ‘giving back to society’
DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 26, 2019
The University of Guyana (UG) Medical Students Association, in collaboration with the departments in the Health Faculty, including Ophthalmology and the School of Dentistry, will host its annual health fair.
According to a fifth-year student and prospective doctor, Shafali Milton, this is the first step in creating doctor-patient bonds as they prepare to be deployed into the health system.
The medical students view the annual health fair as their way of giving back to the community. This year’s event was held at the Republic Bank’s parking lot on Main Street.
Milton explained, “we want to develop a relationship with these patients, they need to trust us. So, for that reason, we are developing ourselves …by doing this. Being a doctor is about going the extra mile so all the students here are volunteering and giving back their bit to society.”
She also noted that this year’s fair sets out specifically to address two major diseases, Diabetes and Hypertension. Testing for these two was done while doctors were on-site to render professional, medical advice.
Representatives of the Presidential National Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases Commission were also at the fair providing viable information on how individuals can develop healthy lifestyle practices to prevent these and other diseases.
Director of the School of Medicine at UG, Dr. Ronald Aaron said that such an initiative spearheaded by the medical students of the university provides a way for them to be taught how to interact with patients while addressing health-related concerns.
“Healthcare professionals have a social responsibility to the community in which they live and serve, and this is just one way of being responsible. In addition to health fairs, our students hold talks at health centres and a host of other activities every year at all levels in the medical school,” he explained.
The health fair, which was hosted on August 24, attracted the attention of many persons who were plying the area to conduct business or otherwise. Other services included dental, eye care, epilepsy awareness, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS and persons were afforded the opportunity to donate blood.
Sponsors supporting the event include Republic Bank, N&S Mattai, Banks DIH, Massay Industries Guyana, Five Star Mining, Allegiance trading, SPR enterprise and Sueria Manufacturing company.