UNAM physio students reach out
Healthy lungs for all
As part of World Lung Day activities, physiotherapy students from the University of Namibia’s (UNAM) Hage Geingob Campus travelled to the Otjomuise community hall in the capital to educate residents and spread awareness about tuberculosis (TB).The theme was “healthy lungs for all.”
Speaking at the outreach, senior physiotherapy lecturer Faarie Kaamba, shared a few welcoming remarks, saying: “We’re here to share the knowledge and stress the importance of lung health. Feel free to ask questions that you may have, and if not for you, there might be someone within your community who could benefit from this information.”
Another senior lecturer that accompanied the group, Dr Catherine Tadayanemhandu, urged members of the community to be open about the topic of lung health.
“TB can affect an entire family,” she emphasised. “It is important that we’re united in the fight against the spread of TB. The best way is to be informed thoroughly, about the bacterial infection – and we must learn to tackle this together as one.”
As part of the programme, the 4th year physiotherapy students held an educational session, where they explained what tuberculosis is, how it spreads as well as the its signs and symptoms.
After the introduction, the students explained how tuberculosis is remedied along with the medication used to treat the bacterial infection, as well as the importance of taking TB medication and the dangers associated with halting medication.
To ensure that all members of the community had the opportunity to benefit from the information shared, instructions were translated into Afrikaans and Oshiwambo.
Feedback
Community members were given the opportunity to give feedback as well as ask questions about tuberculosis to the students, lecturers, and healthcare professionals in attendance. For example, a woman asked why she still had some symptoms after she had begun taking her medication.
In response, she was informed it would take some time before she would begin to feel relief. However, she must continue to take her medication, as well as inform healthcare workers, should she see or encounter some of her symptoms.
In reaction to other questions and concerns, the students and professionals involved in the outreach took their time to ensure patients received the answers they needed.
Following the educational session, community members present were put through assessments by the students, asking them about their symptoms as well as the treatments they were following. Thereafter, community members were separated into groups to partake in games and activities arranged for the day.
Finally, community members received lunch which they ate together with the students and a prizegiving was held for the competition winners.
*Original report by Etietop Akpabio and Suama Shingenge, 3rd-year media students, currently doing an internship in the Faculty of Health Sciences & Veterinary Medicine.