Reflection Of Preston Health Mela 2018
Apr, 24 2018
~Success is measured in consistently and fine attention to detail. Success can also be determined by a team of highly skilled, highly knowledgeable people in their field of expertise.
On Saturday 14th April the UCLAN Creative Communities Group University staff, students, honorary fellows and community members hosted the 17th annual Health Mela on behalf of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing [NFHW].
This well known event has been a regular and established occasion for the people of Preston and it’s local inhabitants. This year we were fortunate to invite medical professionals who could share their wealth of experience as well as appreciative advice on how to live a healthy life.
They included :- Dr Kieran Moriarty, CBE [Consultant physician and gastroenterologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital, and alcohol lead for the British Society of Gastroenterology] and Dr Chris Moulton [Consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Bolton Hospital and Vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine]
DVC Lynne Livesey addressed a captive audience at the start of the day at the VIP breakfast meeting in the scholars restaurant. The Mayor of Preston, Cllr. Brian Rollo also spoke about UCLAN’S engagement in promoting good health and well being through and in conjunction with the successful Health Melas.
As the day progressed more and more community members entered the University building with an open mind which helped them seek treatment and advice from senior NHS clinicians and medical students supported by the university nursing and pharmacy students.
In total there were 70 stalls which focused on blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol through free health checks. The public were also able to receive advice from a variety of healthcare professionals and experience holistic therapy such as Reiki. Younger attendees enjoyed themselves by visiting the Teddy Bear Clinic, examining the inflatable walk-in mega-brain and testing out the smoothie making bike.
50 UCLAN students volunteered to give up their time to support and help where they could at the event. These covered the following sectors the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Law, Media and Business.
In addition, due to last years torrential storms in the states, students from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) have took residence in the UK and have continued their studies at UCLAN. They kindly contributed in the Health Assessments and worked alongside our UCLAN students.
This is the fourth year UCLAN has collaborated with the NFHW with extra support from the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trusts and a wide range of voluntary and statutory organisations, to bring the event to Preston. It focuses on awareness of drugs, alcohol and homelessness and works with the local community to promote positive health and wellbeing.
UCLan’s Creative Communities Group (CCG) again played a key role in working with the NFHW and local organisations to bring the Mela to Preston.
Russell Hogarth, co-founder and chair of the UCLAN CCG, expressed these words of joy about involvement with the Mela and his appreciation to the Faculty of Health and Well being for their contribution,
“It’s always a pleasure helping to organise this annual event with our UCLAN Creative Communities Group members. It’s the fourth year we have hosted the Health Mela at the University and we must thank the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing for kindly sponsoring the event again this year.”
To sail the Health Mela 2018 we have to thank the tremendous support from our University staff, students, honorary fellows and community members. As well as staff across the University including FM, LIS, Security, Caretakers, Mail Room, Press office, Marketing. Car parking, Hospitality and Catering. Finally, a big thank you to
Nigel Harrison and the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing for sponsoring the catering throughout the day.
NFHW Chair Romesh Gupta has these concluding words of gratitude to what was presented as well as the long term successful consistency of the Health Melas,
“This year many lectures were delivered in the hall covering variety of topics impacting our wellbeing. The Digital well-being was an eye opener and James Glover offered practical tips to protect our children from harmful digital environment. We will continue to work with our partner organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of our local communities.”
Thank you to everyone who came, took part and volunteered. It could not have been done without you.
^Alex Ashworth.
