This year’s World Diabetes Day event was organised by students of Faculty of Medicine MU in the Olympia shopping centre during the weekend of 13th – 14th November 2021 after a one-year pause. The World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on 14th November and its point is to highlight the prevention of Diabetes and the key role of healthy lifestyle.
One of the long-term educational projects for the public by students of Medicine associated into the international organisation IFMSA CZ (International Federation of Medical Students Association) draws attention to prevention of civilizational diseases.
During the weekend of 13th – 14th November, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, visitors of the Olympia shopping centre had the opportunity to learn about diabetes and have their glycemia, cholesterol level or blood pressure measured. Thanks to the cooperation of students throughout the faculty, not only students of Medicine were present, students of Dentistry attended as well and focused on prevention in oral care and dental hygiene. Dietitian students we also strongly represented, focusing on BMI evaluations or consultations on inclusion of suitable foods into diet. Other stands included an unforgettable self-examination of breasts and testicles or effective hand hygiene with subsequent examination under UV lamp and for the youngest visitors, a Hospital for Teddy Bears. The stand with most action was the one including a dummy, on which the visitors were able to train first aid.
“In total, we managed to train over 70 students of the FM MU, which took turns at the 10 stands over the weekend. We properly explained and commented on the results of each participant. When we came across unfavourable results of a participant, we recommended them a visit to a medical facility, so that they could take the necessary steps towards maintaining their own health,” states the main organiser of this year’s event, medical student Kateřina Dvořáková.
Co-organiser Nela Pelánková adds: “We also donated a few glucometres to those, who had significantly unfavourable results. Thank you to all the visitors who stopped at all the stands or even at just a few selected ones. Any prevention makes sense.”
On Saturday morning, the event was visited by the Dean of FM MU, prof. MUDr. Martin Repko, Ph.D., who came to support it. “I very much appreciate these student activities, which lead to raising awareness not only about diabetes mellitus, but also about the prevention of other diseases. Especially in these challenging times. I was pleased with the energy with which they paid attention to the visitors and thus helped to build a good name for our Faculty of Medicine,” said Prof. Repko.
Brno Ph.D. Competition Talent, which annually supports promising male and female natural sciences and engineering students, brought joy to the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University this year. Among the 25 selected students who received an extraordinary scholarship of CZK 360,000 for three years, six PhD students from this faculty succeeded.
Amidst the hustle and bustle and fatigue of the end of the year, there is an opportunity to pause, reflect on the achievements and step into the next year with gratitude and hope.
