By Agatha N. Biira
Every semester, Uganda Christian University (UCU) holds a health awareness week aimed at sensitizing students about their health. During this week, there are various activities conducted, such as blood donation, free eye checkups, and HIV testing.
We spoke to some students about the significance of the health awareness week and this is what they said.
Joel Nowangye- DBA 2
It hasn’t been of help to me personally, but I feel like mental health wasn’t something that was emphasized that much here at campus. But with this, I feel like many of us needed it, including many of my friends.
Even if they are not able to express it, you can see that there is something wrong, and as a concerned friend, I want my friends to get the help they need before it goes to the extreme.
Grace Nantale- BAMC 2
If I am to be honest, I have not really gained from this health week. I wasn’t approached by anyone talking to me about it. Except today, when I discovered that there was a health camp, I only saw posters but I didn’t see any activity going on around the classroom blocks where most students converge. This is something I would expect to have more students involved and also be aware of, but I didn’t see that happening. If I had not come to the library, I wouldn’t have known there was something going on.
I see no use in it if there is no complete awareness around the university. But of course, I know there are students who have benefited from this. I think the next time they should involve more students because most of us are not involved and yet health is something that affects us all.
Cranmer Wamala-BOHPHI 3
During this health week, I have been able to learn about my health and other people’s health. It is something that we students need to open up to and take advantage of the services available, like HIV testing, eye checkups, and blood donation.
Also, thanks to people coming together, I have been able to make some friends. We have been sensitized about health issues such as HIV, which is increasing at a high rate now.
Ruth Igiraneza-BAMC 2
I have been able to get tested and know my HIV status. I have also had my eyes checked, which is something I had always wanted to do. With these free services, I have actually saved on something I would have spent on if I had gone for a check up outside of university. I would encourage other students to take advantage of these services.
Through the Thursday community worship, I actually got to find out something new to me. I didn’t know Panadol had caffeine in it. I learnt how bad drug abuse is and how to avoid it once you get addicted.
Patrick Walubitsa- BBA 1
Well, to me, this has really been beneficial. I have had my blood tested and I have also got to know my health status.
To a point, I feel like, in a way, this has reduced stress among students that opened up to the mental health services. There has been a # yeokay campaign addressing mental health issues. It is through such services, plus guidance and counselling, that students can be helped. There is a lot of academic stress that students deal with that these services address.
Christine Nyadoi – BPLM 2
It has helped me as an individual to know my status with the free health services available. I am also going to donate blood with the hope that it will save someone’s life out there.
This is a good directive, and I would encourage other students to open up to these services and get to know more about their health. I would also encourage them to get tested to know where they are standing health-wise.
