SECOND-year Caribbean School of Nursing (CSON), University of Technology (UTech) on Friday March 31 left participants at their community health fair feeling hopeful about improving their health status.

The health fair, dubbed My Health, Your Health, Our Health, took place at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, UTech. It was open to the public and featured topics such as proper waste disposal, HIV prevention, fire safety, preventing teen pregnancies, healthy eating and nutrition, physical activity and exercise, hygiene, violence prevention, mental health and wellness, and preventing mosquito-borne diseases.

The event was the final project of the health promotion module, which serves to enable students to understand the concepts of health promotion and the strategies used in the promotion and maintenance of health in the individual, family, and community.

Sponsored by the National Health Fund, the health fair provided blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, BMI (body mass index) testing, as well as haemoglobin screening to members of the public.

Tyece Ferguson, a student who also benefited from the screening tests provided by the NHF, said the experience was educational and she left feeling empowered.

“I am happy about my result and the advice given to me. The NHF service was indeed a positive and educational experience and, apart from being part of the planning and execution of the event, I learnt a lot from my classmates and left feeling empowered to make changes in various aspects of my life to improve my health and well-being,” she said.

Ralston Clarke who visited the health fair booths and also took part in the screening tests said he was happy he stopped by the event. He said he was also glad that the knowledge gained could help him make adjustments in his life to improve his health status.

Renee Carnegie said while she did not participate in the screening tests from NHF she was impressed by the display on unplanned pregnancies and proper oral hygiene.

“I think it was a real, frank and needed discussion that also provided people with the tangible tools to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies. I also liked that it showed how such an occurrence can impact several aspects of one’s life. I also liked that the oral hygiene display showed that proper mouth care is not out of reach, and it also looked a how improper oral hygiene can affect one’s overall health. With education, the right tools and empowerment, it’s something we can all do,” she said

Ramone Young, CSON vice-student representative, said despite having an average turnout at the health fair, he “wants to remind Jamaicans there is still hope where health care is concerned”.

“Despite the current forecast of challenges surrounding the health-care system and nurses on whole, there is still hope. We see nursing as more than a course of study. It is definitely a lifestyle — and what better way to show others how to live healthy than giving self through community service and volunteerism in hosting a successful health fair?”

In addition to services provided by the NHF, The Ashe Company provided HIV/STI screening and counselling, and the Windsor Wellness Centre sponsored BMR (basal metabolic rate) testing and oxymetres to participants. The National Council on Drug Abuse, National Solid Waste Management Authority, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade also gave presentations.