Nutrition Outreach Programme
21.02.2011
UCC medical students recently visited local primary schools in Glasheen (Cork) to present key nutritional messages to school-children. This novel nutrition Outreach Programme was developed in association with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC), which has a well-developed and hugely popular schools education program. The second-year medical students are studying a special module on medical nutrition. The students gave class-room presentations on digestion, food groups and the importance of calcium in childhood and adolescence. The students chose Calcium and Vitamin D as their key message, explaining to the school-children that adequate calcium intake is essential for peak bone mass attainment. They also distributed smoothie recipes, played calcium games and used a selection of medical props to explain digestion and bone health.

Dr Siun O’Flynn, Head of Medical Education at the School of Medicine, is enthusiastic about the nutrition Outreach Program. “It’s good for school-children to hear health messages from young medical students, and what better health message than good nutrition.”

Module co-ordinator, Dr Bridget Maher said that the medical students and the school-children greatly enjoyed the presentation. “For many of our students, it was their first time giving a presentation, yet they immediately captivated their audience. It was great fun, there were lots of questions, and the students really got their message across. The focus of the medical nutrition module is on ‘point-of-practice’ nutrition and what better way of doing this than talking calcium to school-children. It helps the medical students on how to convey their message and give nutrition advice that people understand.”

Dr O’Flynn and Dr Maher would like to thank Ms Andrea Doolan and Dr Sally Cudmore at the APC for their help with the presentations and organizing this programme.

A special thank you to the teachers and the excellent pupils of Glasheen Boys’ and Girls’ National Schools.

Picture: UCC medical students with pupils from Glasheen Girls NS.

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