Violence Against Women – educational campaign by AUS students

EDITOR: It may have been news to some individuals, but violence against women is a public health issue. On Thursday, November 16, 2017, the Vincentian public was educated on the global public health issue, “Violence against women”, by medical students of the American University of St Vincent School of Medicine (AUS). It was an opportunity for the students to interact with the public and enhance their interpersonal skills, which is vital in patient care. Most importantly, this educational campaign presented the Vincentian public with information on a globally recognized problem ‘Violence against women’. Pamphlets were disseminated and they included global statistics on the issue and highlighted risk factors and prevention strategies.

The information was well received by the public. It was a rewarding experience for the students, who, through their interactions with the Vincentian public, learnt that persons are willing to gain further knowledge on the subject. Of note, it was also found that some men are also subjected to violence by their intimate partners, but they are often ashamed to admit it, for fear of being mocked.

Following this public education session and given the positive feedback from Vincentians, the medical students at AUS vowed to continue their educational campaign. The team of students was led by myself (dean of Student Affairs and assistant professor at AUS, Dr Shakel Henson).

In the future, AUS aspires to continue its service to the people of SVG. Within the recent past, medical students of AUS were also involved in community health fairs that primarily focused on educating the public about the need to be physically active, so as to reduce their risks of acquiring non-communicable diseases like hypertension. Before the end of 2017, the students aspire to conduct more health fairs in various communities throughout SVG.

Medicine is not merely a science, which involves treating and then discharging patients, but it is also an art and thus has a social component. The students, staff, Faculty and management of the AUS will continue to incorporate this social aspect of medicine, through their engagement with the public, so that as many persons as possible, who are living in SVG, can benefit.

Dr. Shakel Henson,Assistant Professor/Dean of Student Affairs American University of St. Vincent School of Medicine