Queen's medics outreach energised by NIE

A unique children's health programme, Medics in Primary Schools, was launched today by Queen's University and Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE).

The programme develops a closer relationship between the medical profession and the local community, and involves a series of visits by undergraduate medical students to primary schools across the greater Belfast area.

The medics will guide the school children through a health education programme including medically related topics such as diet and nutrition, the skin and heat and energy, whilst hopefully providing positive role models encouraging primary pupils to consider a medical career.

Professor Ken Bell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students and Learning at Queen's, said: "This unique programme, carried out in partnership with NIE, is a special study module offered to second year medical students at the University and is one of the best examples of how Queen's reaches out into the local community in which is it is rooted.

"It not only gives our medical students the chance to improve their communication skills while working with children from a variety of backgrounds, but it also brings alive real issues about personal health to the students of the future, who are encouraged to think about a career in medicine or any of the related health sciences."

Dr Andy McCrea from NIE added: "We are delighted to be able to support this programme as it gives children a practical understanding of how their personal health and wellbeing can be affected by their surroundings.

"A healthy child is one who lives in a warm well insulated home so, as part of the programme, NIE provides a 'Caring for the Community' thermometer card so the children can learn how to read temperatures and relate this to their own home and how it is insulated."

Now in its fourth year the initiative currently involves 38 students working with 35 schools in the greater Belfast area.

(MB)