Corps Members Urge Students to Patronise Government Health Facilities
Undergraduates have been encouraged to take full advantage of medical facilities provided by the government within their institutions and to undergo essential health checks before taking any medication.
This appeal was made by medical practitioners currently serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a health sensitisation outreach held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
The sensitisation exercise, taken to both male and female hostels on campus, formed part of the Personal Community Development Service (CDS) project initiated by a corps member, Mr. Francis Henry, with support from the African Health Connect Initiative and the Anambra State Ministry of Health.
The corps members—who are all medical professionals serving in Anambra State—carried placards with inscriptions such as “Food Poisoning Is Preventable,” “Practice Good Hygiene,” “Protect Yourself,” “Avoid Hard Drugs,” “Eat Right, Stress Less,” “Prevent Ulcer,” and “Early Care Saves Lives” as they moved around the institution to create awareness.
Mr. Henry, a nurse serving at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre, urged students to prioritise regular medical checkups to determine their blood pressure, blood sugar level, and other vital parameters to prevent avoidable health complications.
He also warned them against indulging in hard drugs and other illicit behaviours capable of derailing their academic goals.
According to him, students should make effective use of the university’s medical centre, which offers a wide range of services at no cost.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist at the centre, Mr. Chukwuebuka Ezepue, also emphasised the importance of conducting vital tests before self-medicating.
He advised students to always seek professional medical attention at the school clinic whenever they notice unusual changes in their bodies. He further encouraged them to adopt major lifestyle modifications, eat healthy meals, and sleep under treated mosquito nets to reduce the incidence of malaria.
A nutritionist, Dr. Timileyin Adebowale, cautioned students against skipping breakfast, noting that doing so places unnecessary stress on the stomach and can trigger ulcers. She urged them to prioritise balanced meals and avoid acidic foods that worsen ulcer symptoms.
Another corps member, an eye-care specialist, Dr. Victoria Omoregie, delivered a health talk on protecting vision. She warned students against prolonged screen exposure and advised them to occasionally look away from phone or laptop screens and focus on distant objects—about 20 metres away—to prevent eye strain.
