Academic institutions can play an important role in the prevention of disease for women. Education, as with anything, is crucial. Institutions offering more courses either required portions of the curriculum or electives, which promote health awareness, are one way to further education required for disease prevention. If women know prominent diseases faced by their gender and common signs and symptoms, they will be more likely to catch diseases while still treatable. Some institutions are beginning to host walks (5k or marathons) to promote awareness of certain diseases as well as health fairs to cover general health issues (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity). Academic institutions with open campuses requiring students to walk to class rather than park right at the building will increase physical activity of their students with the hopes of increasing their health. Requiring a course with physical activity (even if it just bowling) will help students be more active. A gym membership can be expensive, and most college students are living on a budget; providing a free gym to students would not only provide a place for them to work out, but provide a place for students getting degrees in athletic training etc. to get hands on training and learning. Intramural sports are typically a part of the college experience. I always participated in softball, bowling, and flag football. Those intramural sports were a great way to meet people and be physically fit. There are many opportunities for academic institutions to provide education and increased physical activity. The key is many students do not know all of the options available. Providing information through flyers, emails, and announcements in classes is one way to get the word out on campuses. Students will not remember all of the activities available if the information is provided during orientation when they are already in information-overload.
Kerri,
ReplyDeleteInformation is important. Increasing the avenues for students to know about activities is a good idea. I think added electives is a good idea. I would not add more required courses because heavy schedules tend to keep students from participating in activities they enjoy and might continue.
Shenita had a good idea to have health seminars about heart health. Seminars are good ways to bring many people and experts together to get a whole picture of a problem. I think it would be a good idea to make these annual events that students and staff can look forward to and plan to attend. It also would create exceitement as students and staff recount the previous years information others would want to attend.
Linda
Hello Kerri,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog because I really felt your enthusiasm to help promote health education and awareness. You are so right that if women are more aware of the diseases that affect us then more women will be aware of the signs and symptoms and be able to receive treatment earlier than opposed to women who did not know what to look for. Also by sharing information through e-mail, health awareness classes, flyers, class announcements, etc. are too all great ways to promote awareness and information at academic institutions.
-Brittany LeBron