Health Week brings healthcare and preventative actions to the community of Brotas

A Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública The Health Week was held at the Church of Our Lady of [Name] from May 25th to 29th. BrotasIn Salvador, the initiative benefited residents from various parts of the neighborhood with a free program focused on health promotion, disease prevention, and self-care guidance. The activity was part of the curricular extension program of the Medicine course and involved 6th-semester students supervised by professors from the institution. During the week, the community had access to clinical evaluations, rapid blood glucose tests, electrocardiograms, guidance on physical activity and nutrition, assessment of risk factors for kidney disease, homeopathy consultations, dermatofunctional physiotherapy, integrative practices such as Reiki, and guidance for people with sleep disorders. The program also included ophthalmological screenings conducted by the team from the Humberto Castro Lima Hospital, otorhinolaryngological evaluations for the elderly, and demonstrations of technological resources aimed at promoting health.

“The event is part of the curricular extension of the Medicine course and aims to bring students closer to the community through health promotion actions. Throughout the semester, students are trained to guide the population on healthy habits, prevention and control of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as topics such as smoking, alcohol consumption and the impacts of excessive technology use. In this edition, we have expanded the services offered, including vaccination, exams with immediate results, electrocardiograms, ophthalmological care and integrative practices. The initiative gains even more relevance as it takes place during the month of awareness about hypertension and close to World No Tobacco Day, reinforcing the importance of prevention and self-care,” explains Professor Fernanda Albuquerque from the Medicine course.

In addition to the benefits offered to the population, the initiative also provided an important practical experience for future doctors. “Participating in these initiatives is a very enriching experience for medical training. Besides practicing anamnesis, physical examination, and other procedures, we learn something fundamental: communication with the patient. Direct contact with the community helps us develop listening skills, empathy, and the ability to understand people's needs. This exchange makes all the difference because healthcare goes beyond technical knowledge and requires a human relationship of trust and acceptance,” stated medical student Rafaela Pondé.