Unesc brings health and information initiatives to the community in an event about the SDGs

Nereu Ramos Square was a meeting place between the University and the community on the morning of this Saturday (26). From 8 AM to 12 PM, Unesc promoted an event focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Yellow September, offering free health guidance and care activities. The initiative was organized by the Directorate of Extension, Culture, and Community Actions, in partnership with the Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Dentistry programs and the academic leagues LAPS, LAGO, and IFMSA.

Among the services offered were blood pressure measurement, blood typing, nutritional status assessment, guidance on healthy eating, access to medications, and proper disposal of medications.

Eighth-semester Pharmacy students participated in the activity. According to Professor Maria Cecília Manenti Alexandre, the presence of students in public spaces enhances the experiences provided by their education.

"It’s a great experience for them. This is a different environment, with different people, and they have the opportunity to approach, converse, and share knowledge with the population," she explains.

In addition to the measurements, the Pharmacy team provided information on different ways to access medications, including the Popular Pharmacy, and the services of the Solidarity Pharmacy and the Unesc School Pharmacy. "Sometimes people may be buying medications and incurring high costs when they could obtain them through the Popular Pharmacy," highlights Maria Cecília.

Nutrition and Community Engagement

The Nutrition program was also present, assessing nutritional status based on weight and height, classifying Body Mass Index (BMI), and providing guidance on healthy eating. Participants received information on the ten steps for adequate and healthy eating and access to the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population.

For Professor Patrick Silva da Rosa, the experience brings students closer to the community's reality and expands learning beyond the classroom.

"They move from practice, from teaching, to extension and manage to apply everything as knowledge. The learning is much better," he states.

Student Nicoly Marques Machado, a sixth-semester Nutrition major, volunteered for the activity, even after fulfilling the required hours of complementary activities. For her, being in contact with the population is an important part of her education. "We learn by teaching. It’s really nice to be in touch with the population, to talk, understand their reasons, and provide guidance," she shares.

SDGs in Practice

The event also allowed the community to learn about initiatives developed by Unesc related to the Sustainable Development Goals. The university has been a signatory of the National ODS Movement in Santa Catarina since 2019 and participates in actions aimed at the 2030 Agenda.

Professor and General Coordinator of the Criciúma Committee of the ODS Movement in Santa Catarina, Abel Corrêa de Souza, emphasizes that taking activities to public circulation areas helps to make the work done by signatory institutions visible.

"It is very important for people to see what is being done to contribute to the UN's 2030 Agenda," he states.

For Abel, the University’s participation also highlights the role of extension in connecting with the community. "The Directorate of Extension, Culture, and Community Actions is always present in the community. This shows all the services that the university offers, community activities, philanthropy, scholarships, and everything that can be shared with the community," he emphasizes.

The program also reinforced the proposal to bring together different areas of knowledge around the SDGs and care for people. For Abel, building a fairer society depends on collective involvement. "If we want to have a fairer world, a better world, we must do our part to contribute," he concludes.