KOZHIKODE: When the thought of changing the health of the society pricked the conscience of the medicos of Calicut Medical College (CMC), they first took a view of their own mirror image. The students union of CMC together with a team under the leadership of Dr. P.K Sasidharan, former HoD Medicine, came up with a mission named ‘Heal-thy campus’ to emphasize the total wellness of the campus.
Four projects were introduced in the initial stage of the mission which includes providing cycles to the hostels to create awareness on exercises, managing the hostel mess to develop the habit of a balanced diet, cleaning the campus and making it drug-free. “The very idea of this initiative is treating the disease rather than the patient and as tomorrow's doctors we believe that the change should start happening in our own lifestyles,” says Muhammed Asif, Secretary of ‘Heal-thy campus’.
‘Heal-thy campus’ plans to provide 100 cycles to the students. 35 were distributed to four hostels as a first step. “Students used to rely on motorcycles and other vehicles even for short distances and now cycles have replaced bikes encouraging the idea of exercises”. “These cycles were sponsored by the alumni batches, teachers and many other well-wishers of the campus,” Mr. Asif said. With the help of the Department of Community Medicine CMC, the menu for the hostel mess was prepared to build the habit of a balanced diet.
Further ‘Heal-thy campus’ ensures the cleanliness of the campus and counselling of students against drug usage. “Teachers handle counselling sessions as part of the anti-drug campaign of ‘Heal-thy campus’ and in the near future, we plan to extend our activities to agriculture and aquaculture in the barren areas of the campus,” said Shawn Thomas, a first year MBBS student of CMC.
