UIMSA’s 61st Health Week is coming. Generally, it holds varying degrees of importance for each of it’s members from the planners to the participants and active observers. The UIMSA Press decided to find out what some UIMSAites think about it, their expectations and observations so far.
What’s your perception concerning UIMSA’S health week in general? What comes to your mind when the health week is coming and how does it make you feel?
The health week posters herald a roller coaster of activities to come. When I see the posters, I know I’m in for a lot of fun events. From the bonfire to the dinner to the sports and quiz events. It is one of the most interesting times for an average medical student in Ibadan.
Are you in any of the health week committees? If no, please can you tell us why?
No. Because this is my last health week and I want to experience every bit of it. Sometimes you get the best of experiences as a spectator. I don’t want to be the entertainer; I want to be the entertained.
You deserve it so enjoy. Now, considering the new additions to the week’s line up such as the hackathon, pageantry and movie night, what do you think about this year’s coming health week?
Well, initially, I was a little displeased as I had anticipated the variety night. Felt it was more involving than a hackathon or pageantry would be. However, I’m a big advocate for change and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out.
People are really mourning variety night. Which activity/activities in the line up are you excited about? Can you give us your order of preference of the activities of the week?
I’m really excited about the dinner, bonfire, movie night and definitely the quiz. Ordering them; Dinner, Awards and Pageantry, Rally and Bonfire, Movie Night, Quiz, CHAP, Sports, and the Symposium.
Is there any activity you participated in during past health weeks but you wouldn’t be this year and why?
No, I don’t think so. I’ll be doing it all. And more. 🙂
What do you think about UIMSA Awards? Do you think it is well represented? What do you think about the categories?
I think the awards went through a bit of fine-tuning this time. I’ve always believed awards are supposed to positively reinforce good behavior, hence, no award should be given for something that cannot be changed. Kudos to the Awards sub-committee, as they did a great job this time around.
Is there anything specific that you don’t want a repeat of during this health week?
Well, for one, I’m getting tired of the incessant sports fracas, quarrels and violence. Competitions are really emotional and I understand to some extent how these things can turn out. However, I really hope it doesn’t repeat itself.
What are you expecting to see done better or what areas do you think can be improved on?
I’ve been to three UIMSA dinners previously and I really do hope that “A Night in Zamunda” tops them all. Also, I hope that sometime in the future, senior colleagues and doctors can be invited to oversee some of these competitive sporting events.
What’s your perception concerning UIMSA’s health week in general? What comes to your mind when the health week is coming and how does it make you feel?
I just feel like it’s that time of the year again where UIMSA organises series of events that brings us UIMSAites together. I also see it as an opportunity to function in planning committees not only to contribute but to also see how things are done.
Are you in any of the health week committees?
Yes. I’m in the symposium committee. So far, considering also the new additions to the line up such as the hackathon, pageantry and movie night.
What do you think about this year’s coming health week?
They’re all good ideas but I don’t like how the interclass debate was cancelled. I don’t think one should leave for the other or if anything, why debate? It’s something I’m particularly interested in and was looking forward to it this year until I learned that it was removed from the list of programs. Pageantry will be done during the dinner and I don’t think it’s fair. I can’t say if there was a time that UIMSA used to have pageantry and dinner on the same night but as much as I know, dinner is usually a separate event. So, if I’m not interested in the dinner, it means I automatically can’t witness the pageantry. I believe more people will be interested in pageantry but they will be limited and might lose interest if they have to pay for dinner that they’re probably not interested in. I just realized there’s no variety night also.
I get you but what if it was a plan to make the dinner more appealing?
It could have even been a way to generate money if the two events were separated The dinner is traditional. People that want to attend will always do. Pageantry might bring in more people but it won’t be like if they were two separate events.
Fair point. Which activity/activities in the line up are you excited about or anticipating? Can you give us your order of preference of the activities of the week?
Movie night, quiz, symposium and hackathon, every other thing follows in no particular order. My class is out of the football competition so I’m no longer interested in the sports.
Is there any activity you participated in during past health weeks but you wouldn’t be this year and why?
I was a member of the debate committee during the last health week and it is not among the list of events this time. I attended variety night during the last health week and it was also removed.
Is there anything specifically that you don’t want a repeat of during this health week?
African time. Health week events usually start hours after the designated time. I hope there’s proper planning and time management this time around.
What’s your perception concerning UIMSA’S health week in general? What comes to your mind when the health week is coming and how does it make you feel?
Well what comes to my mind is that the end of a tenure is close, dinner and interclass competitions. Basically the one week of chill time for medical students. I enjoy the broadcast videos that are created, showing that there is more to medicine and medical students than book. I’m usually very proud of my people who put this together. I think I get excited because I feel like everyone else is. Mimic emotion, perhaps?
Are you in any of the health week committees? If no, please can you tell us why?
I’m in the CHAP committee and we are having an outreach as a part of the health week. I’m also in the Projects committee and by reason, fundraising committee.
So far, with the new additions to the line up such as the hackathon, pageantry and movie night what do you think about this year’s coming health week?
I’m someone that really like switching things up, so I really like the new addictions. I don’t know what movie we would be seeing but I certainly wouldn’t miss it. The pageantry too is a really nice addition.
Which activity/activities in the line up are you excited about and can you give us your order of preference for the activities of the week?
The movie night is one I’m anticipating, also the CHAP outreach. From lowest to highest; Rally and Bonfire, Symposium and Hackathon, Quiz, Dinner, awards and pageantry, Sports, CHAP, Movie night.
Is there any activity you participated in during past health week but you wouldn’t be this year and why?
None. I’ve only attended variety night and it’s not in this year’s health week.
What’s your perception concerning UIMSA’S health week in general? What comes to your mind when the health week is coming and how does it make you feel?
From my first experience of UIMSA’s health week, I can say that it was worth the hype, as it included many exciting and educative events. The symposium was very informative as Professors and Do octors from in and out of Nigeria spoke and admonished us. The bonfire wasn’t really bad, although I was expecting to see fire which I didn’t. But the vibe was there. The outreach was exhausting but exciting as I was able to talk to patients. What comes to my mind? Let me say “educative adventure” and it makes me long for more to come.
Are you in any of the health week committees? If no, please can you tell us why?
Yes. I volunteered to join the CHAP and Quiz committees. The Health Week is filled with interesting memories. I’m happy you explored.
What do you think about this year’s coming Health Week?
I feel they’re going to make theirs unique, starting from the “Zamunda” themed dinner to the movie night. I’m actually looking forward to it and I hope it is better than that of last year. I also hope they reduce the price of the dinner tickets to attract more UIMSAites because it’s on the high side.
Can you give us your order of preference of the activities of the week?
CHAP, Movie night, Rally and Bonfire, Symposium and Hackathon, Quiz, Sports, Dinner, Awards and Pageantry. CHAP is my most preferred because of the adventure and it prepares me for the future in a way. The dinner is my least preferred because of the ticket price.
Is there any activity you participated in during past health weeks but you wouldn’t be this year and why?
No, I plan to participate in all activities again.
Is there anything specific that you don’t want a repeat of during this health week?
I really can’t remember. If anything though, it will be the fact that they weren’t strict with the timing at the symposium, but I guess that’s a common thing in Nigeria.
What are you expecting to see done better or what areas do you think can be improved on?
That would be the bonfire. The location they used for last year was a bit enclosed. They should consider using a more open area and setting up an actual fire for the fun of it.
Osaretin Vanessa Ehiorobo and Victoria Elegbede
