Summary
- Young people on Thursday Island are being encouraged to have regular health checks and build healthy behaviours for the future.
- As part of activities to promote regular health checks, a Young Persons Health Check was held over two weeks at the Tagai Secondary Campus on Thursday Island recently.
Young people on Thursday Island are being encouraged to have regular health checks and build healthy behaviours for the future.
Torres Strait Men’s and Women’s Health Program Coordinator Lily-Annie Ahmat said an annual health check was important for young people.
As part of activities to promote regular health checks, a Young Persons Health Check was held over two weeks at the Tagai Secondary Campus on Thursday Island recently.
“The Tagai event aims to encourage young people to build healthy behaviours from an early age, Ms Ahmat said.
“By providing the event with consent from parents and carers it overcomes barriers for young people to access health services, such as shame, stigma, and confidentiality.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Yoko Mills said early detection and prevention were the focus of the Young Persons Health Check.
The health check at Tagai has been held annually for the past nine years. “This builds trust and rapport between students and health staff,’’ Ms Mills said.
She said familiarity with the Men’s and Women’s Health Program and health staff enabled the students to continue accessing the health service when they left school.
“Prompt follow up of students with abnormal results is an important process for their health and wellbeing,’’ Ms Mills said.
Students attending the Tagai health check also were eligible for prizes as part of completing their check. The Men’s and Women’s Health Program, in partnership with Tagai Secondary, will aim to deliver the event into the future.
Primary Health Care Programs Director Maleta Abednego said the Men’s and Women’s Health Program was one of five primary health care programs that operated under the Torres Strait Model of Primary Health Care.
The team is renowned for its community engagement and health promotion prior and post to all community visits.