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HESA Health Week

The Health Sciences Students’ Association, HESA - KNUST embarked on a maiden Health Week from Monday, 22nd of July to Saturday, 27th July, 2024 on the theme, “Holistic health for a thriving HESA community”. The Health Week aimed to improve the overall well-being of College of Health Sciences students and promote healthy living for people and animals in nearby communities.

The week-long event featured several key components, including an online webinar on sexual and reproductive health, an outreach on substance use and addiction, health myths and facts, a mental health program, aerobics, and a holistic health screening for the Bomso community.

Sexual and Reproductive Health; HESA partnered with representatives from Marie Stopes Reproductive Choices and the University Nursing Students Association of Ghana (UNSAG) to offer counseling and education to students on the topic: Prevalence of STIs and unsafe abortions and their effects amongst students.

HESA also hosted a Successful Community Health screening and animal vaccination in Bomso on Friday 26th July, 2024 as part of the association’s Health Week. Community members took advantage of free blood pressure checks, glucose testing, and other basic health evaluations provided by volunteer nurses and some health students. A team from the School of Veterinary Medicine went around the community vaccinating dogs and cats in their various homes.

Mental Health Support; since the mental health of students cannot be left untouched, Clinical psychologist assistant and a member of KNUST Counselling Center, Ms. Chelsea Kosoku led sessions on stress management, and exploring overall mental well-being and academic excellence. The program was done in collaboration with Hygieiora, a mental health application service.

Substance Use Prevention; HESA's outreach team provided education on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as information on addiction treatment. The team went to bus stops to talk to students and advised students to reach out to the school’s counselors for guidance.

The Health Week climaxed with an interesting aerobics session, getting students moving and promoting the importance of regular exercise. The Maiden Health Week spearheaded by the HESA Health Officer, Gali Edmund Kobina, served as a valuable opportunity to address a range of critical health needs, empowering students to take proactive steps and make informed decisions on their health.

"Our goal was to promote healthy living amongst students of HESA and bring essential health services to the Bomso community in a convenient and accessible way," said HESA president, Bernard Bosomah Yeboah. "The turnout and engagement throughout the week were incredibly encouraging, and we're hoping that this wonderful initiative continues in the coming years".