Written by Kristina Pulis
SCOPET is the standing committee within MMSA whose main aim is to target children and offer them educational, yet fun and interactive, sessions that are mainly centered around healthy living.
The sessions given are tailormade to address problems most prevalent for children in our community such as;
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Repetitive Strain Injury
- Lack of knowledge regarding road safety
- Fear of the hospital setting
- Lack of basic first aid knowledge
Sessions offered tackle all these essential subjects, nutrition and fitness, ergonomics, and basic first aid, to children attending Maltese schools. Extra-curricular centres such as football nurseries also benefit from these.
We have sessions adapted to primary schools and more advanced sessions that are more appropriate in secondary schools.
Ergonomics
This session consists of knowledge regarding the basic structure and function of the spine, maintenance of proper posture for a healthy back, and other common conditions affecting the spine and back.
The basic first aid sessions introduce the students to skills in an interactive, hands-on, and enjoyable manner. We teach students a diverse array of emergency procedures ranging from tending to a jellyfish sting at the beach to properly administer CPR.
Fitness and nutrition
Regarding the fitness and nutrition session, we explain the importance of food and the different food types which constitute a healthy and balanced diet. When it comes to secondary-level students; the concept of calories, calorie balance and analysing food labels will be discussed.
The new campaign added this year with SCOPH and Doctors for Road Safety centralised promoting and raising road safety awareness.
Teddy Bear Hospital
Stress children might feel when visiting the doctor could influence them all negatively even once they grow into adulthood; so in light of the issue, we also offer a session targeted mainly at very young children called Teddy Bear Hospital.
Children were asked to bring with them a teddy bear to school. The child is the doctor and the teddy bear is their patient.
Medical students demonstrate various activities such as; using common instruments like the stethoscope, thermometer, and a mouth mirror, what a bone on an X-ray film looks like and the importance of vaccines. Children then got to practice these on their teddy bear patients.
World Children’s Day
Established in 1954 and celebrated on the 20th of November – each year promoting international unity, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
As MMSA, we visit various schools throughout the year in order to raise awareness about children’s health. For World Children’s Day, we hold major events and this year we decided to visit Mosta Primary A School.
In order to explain the logistics of World Children’s Day, a workshop was organised amongst the participants, giving them an introduction to basic first aid principles. Given by the President of Malta Red Cross, Mr. Edward Gruppetta, helped us, medical students, to deliver accurate information while giving the Basic First Aid session.
A medical student dressed up as a teddy bear visited each classroom as a surprise visit.
During the event at Mosta Primary A School:
- 125 medical students took part in this event,
- 30 classes were given a variety of sessions with,
- 650 children being targeted
We are very pleased that Mosta Local Council collaborated with us and sponsored us in order to have more toy doctor sets to be used on the day, as well as two sets which were given to the school.
This event enabled medical students to empower younger children to be more health-conscious. Aside from that, children are now more aware of the daily practices and habits which may influence their long-term health.
