Tuks Leadership and Individual Programme (TULIP) in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences hosted a holistic Health Day at Tsako Thabo Secondary School based in Mamelodi on 5 and 12 March 2022. The event also catered for neighbouring schools Stanza Bopape, Solomon Mahlangu Freedom School and Phateng High school and over two hundred learners participated.

The aim of Health Day was to empower high school students with basic life-saving skills, mental health coping mechanisms, the importance of diet and fitness. The Tuks Leadership and Individual Program (TULIP) is a student-driven society at the University of Pretoria that aspires to bridge the gap between secondary and tertiary education in underprivileged areas to ensure that learners are holistically equipped to face societal challenges.

TULIP Vice Chairperson and registered Counsellor, Victoria Mokoena kicked of the event with a mental health awareness talk with the learners. The learners were given an opportunity to engage and share their thoughts about suicide and depression. This enabled TULIP and learners to break the mental health stigma. Learners received information on mental health platforms available such as helplines where they can get free counselling.

Learners got an opportunity to showcase their talents by performing various entertainment items to entertain those in attendance. Thereafter, they rotated at the various stations that had been set up by TULIP. The first station focused on diet and fitness where healthy eating habits were encouraged and learners were educated on general nutrition. Meitry Fitness Company also demonstrated some fun workout routines to the learners.

The second station addressed basic life-saving skills where learners were taught basic emergency care and how to perform high-quality CPR the #Lifechangers way, they also got to demonstrate their newfound skills on a CPR mannequin. The third station focused on vital signs and the learners were taught the basics of monitoring them and their indications. After the event, a nutritious snack pack was provided for the learners.

Third-year MBChB student and TULIP Chairperson, Sihle Mogorosi shared that the event was a huge overall success.  “TULIP is truly thankful to Prof. De Jager and the Faculty of Health Sciences at large for going above and beyond in ensuring that this event was a success and for the constant support they received. The faculty truly lives by their motto of being #Lifechangers” he said.