Health care was, as usual, the buzzword at the Annual Health and Wellness Fair for Campus Health Services, held recently at the Durban University of Technology’s Ritson Campus.
The event, an initiative of the Isolempilo Campus Health Clinic at DUT, was intended to promote health and wellbeing among DUT staff and students through a range of ways.
It attracted established organisations such as Alpine Foods, Rose Clinic and Kharwastan Pharmacy who were among the sponsors of the experience. As part of the programme, the campus clinic approached a few service providers who helped promote healthy living. These were Froggies, Axcess Marketing, Durban Coastal Mental Health, South African National Blood Services (SANBS) and DUT’s very own Department of Homeopathy.
“When you wear a good pair of shoes, your feet feel relaxed and therefore you feel good,” said Isolempilo Campus Health Clinic Sister Nomvuyo Mbewu about Froggies being present at the event.
Axcess Marketing tested volunteers’ blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels free of charge. The purpose was to encourage the DUT community to regularly check for the aforementioned illnesses.
Zandile Msomi, Medical Representative for Bayer Health Care, informed students about the two-month contraceptive injection, a contraceptive which many students are said to be misinformed about. “There are many myths about what the two-month injection does to the body but I am hoping to clear the air and give students the correct information about it,” said Msomi.
From the Department of Homeopathy, fifth-year student Kerusha Naidoo was also present to enlighten the attendees about the benefits of homeopathy. A profession which promotes the use of alternative methods of medication, Naidoo said, “It is a safer way of living which has no side effects. Lots of people are turning to holistic methods however we still encourage scientific medication in conjunction with the natural methods.”
SANBS promoted blood donation since many South Africans are in dire need of it. Some jewellery was also on display at the event, showing that feeling physically beautiful can assist in making you feel healthy as well.
Sister Mbewu said apart from raising awareness, the aim of the event was to “help DUT students and staff to become conscious of the facilities that they can access for their health.”
– Nikita Smith-Morgan
Pictured: Zandile Msomi (right), Medical Representative of Bayer Health Care, informs students about the two-month contraceptive injection.
