 "Photo: Maddie Crum/ The Daily Texan")
Blood and sweat had to be spilled.
Pharmacy students conducted a series of free tests Thursday afternoon in front of Gregory Gym Plaza, including blood glucose, cholesterol, body mass index and body fat percentage. Other pharmacy organizations manned booths to provide awareness for breast cancer, antibiotics, asthma and heartburn as part of the Pharmacy Council’s annual health fair.
The event is one of many for pharmacy students during the council’s celebration of Pharmacy Month.
“We hold this event in order to show the students what pharmacists can do for them,” said Angharad Webb, co-chairwoman of the council’s Pharmacy Month committee. “We’re just targeting kids walking by.”
Students from the School of Nursing conducted blood pressure tests. Laura Porter, vice president of the Pharmacy Council, said that this was the first time that the event incorporated nursing students.
While many of the health tests are often reserved for the elderly, Webb said the tests are very pertinent to college students.
“You can never have [these] tested too early,” she said. “Especially with the rise of diabetes. It’s always good to know your vital signs.”
The event was also prompted by legislation pending in Congress.
“With the health care reform, we’ve seen a greater demand to prove our value to the community and our patients,” said pharmacy senior April Ledesma. “We found that a lot of patients wanted more interaction with their physicians, nurses and pharmacists, so we decided to put ourselves out there. It’s about adapting to the changing demands that society has for us.”
Biology freshman Alex Limas said he stopped by on his way to calculus class to get his glucose and cholesterol levels checked. He said he believes the event has major benefits for all students.
“I guess in our society, especially in Texas, obesity rates are getting higher, which means cholesterol and diabetes are getting higher, too,” Limas said. “It’s just to promote health care. It’s free and students can find out if they have anything wrong before it becomes too serious.”
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