Medical Students as Health and Environmental Promoters

by Salma Galal, M.D.

Entry to the community

There are a lot of entry points to development, once starting anywhere one finds himself in the mid of the conglomorate, entangled in the social systems; it provokes a 'snowball effect'. Health education was the entry point to the community.

Usually official first contact in the community is to the following:

• administrators on local level
• health unit, social unit or school
• NGOs or volunteers willing to cooperate
• formal community leaders
• informal community leaders
• potential community leaders e.g.women or pupils interested in pursuing health education and through empowerment, develop to community leaders later on.

After having chosen potential target groups for education, the medical student presented her intentions to the head of the institution and provided him with an official letter. Either with him or with the other working personnel they discussed the implementation part. Thereafter it was announced about it and the student started.

A student, in a village of Qena Governorate, chose to educate a fourth grade boy class in the primary school of her village. She convinced the headmaster about her health education activity, discussed it with the teachers, so they offered her a week in the mid-year vacation. Another one in Gharbia Governorate was offered once a week for an hour to teach in a second year class.

A third student - in her village in Dakahlia Governorate - wanted to provide women in literacy classes in an NGO with health education. She presented her idea to the head of the NGO and the teacher. Having agreed, she started her activity.

For comments, suggestions, and feedback please email: heea_egypt@yahoo.com.