​First student-organised health screening popular with residents

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A queue had already formed even before the inaugural community health screen organised by LKCMedicine students got underway at 8am this Saturday morning, 24 March. 

Organised together with the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and Pek Kio Community Centre, this is the first community health screening to include a mental wellness assessment in addition to physical and functional tests. Over the course of two mornings, the students plan to screen some 200 residents over the age of 40 from the local community.  

As the morning progressed, a steady stream of residents made their way to the health screening tent, where some 40-odd student volunteers were on hand to welcome, guide and screen them. 

After registering, student volunteers directed the residents to the NHG stations, where the residents’ blood pressure, height and weight were measured and blood was taken by phlebotomists from Alexandra Health. 

With the physical screening complete, residents received a free bento meal, provided by the Community Centre, before making their way to the functional screening provided by the LKCMedicine students. 

Targeting specifically the elderly, the students, who spanned from Years 1 to 4, timed how long it takes participants to walk 6 metres to assess their risk of falls and interviewed them to detect any continence issues. With the functional assessment completed, students encouraged residents to bring the summary report to their next follow-up appointment with their family doctor.

A first for a community health screening was the inclusion of a mental wellness assessment, for which the students had undergone training by experts from the Institute of Mental Health.

“People have been really quite receptive of the mental health screening,” said Year 2 student Gayatri Raveentheran. For those identified at risk, the students will refer them to Brahm Centre, whose staff will take over follow-up care. 

With support from Mount Alvernia Hospital and the Singapore Cancer Society, the students could also offer free colorectal cancer screening kits for residents to take home and sign them up for flu vaccination, mammograms and pap smears, which will be provided by the two sponsors over the next few months.

Throughout the morning, the tent was filled with conversations in English, Malay, Chinese and many dialects, testing the students in their ability to communicate across language barriers. Manning the colorectal cancer screening station, Year 1 student Tee Xiang Yu said that he is being challenged conveying technical information. “But we prepared some vocab beforehand, so it is not too bad,” he said.

In one instance, it wasn’t language that was the barrier. Meeting a resident who is both deaf and mute, the students resorted to using their handphone to ​convey information, ask questions and give instructions to help him complete the assessment.

The health screening, which the student organisers hope will become an annual event, took a year of careful planning. Inspired by similar projects, the students were driven by a desire to help tackle prevalent issues like chronic diseases, susceptibility to injuries and illnesses and psychosocial issues. Holding their inaugural health screen at Pek Kio had added meaning as it is a neighbourhood the students know well.

“It’s a place we know and it’s a wider part of the community we serve, so the impact feels more personal and tangible,” said Year 3 students Koo Jian Hui, who regularly comes to the nearby hawker centre for lunch. 

As the first screening came to an end, the students had screened more than 130 residents, many of whom approached the student volunteers expressing their thanks for running this two-day event. In addition, despite the large number, the well-organised screening left no one waiting for too long. One participant was particularly impressed by the organisation. “They managed the queue very well,” said Mdm Leong, who was also impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and knowledge.

While only half way through the first screening, the students are keeping an eye to the future. They hope that similar health screenings will continue to complement the Ministry of Health’s ongoing public health efforts such as the Screen for Life programme.

Year 2 student Shi Haixiao, one of the lead organisers, said, “As well as incorporating feedback from this first screening and optimising the screening process, we will look to adding more meaningful screening modalities for the elderly. 

“We also hope to establish stronger ties with more partner organisations, such as the volunteer welfare organisations on the ground, so that our residents can get more personalised follow-up plans.”

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