Comprehensive Health Day strengthens youth well-being in the Ricardo Brugada neighborhood – Paraguay

Health education and community activities at the Elisa Alicia Lynch School – Asunción, a complete success.

Within the framework of Youth Day and as part of the Healthy School Strategy , through a vibrant day of medical care and educational activities at Basic School No. 407 “Elisa Alicia Lynch”, in the emblematic Ricardo Brugada neighborhood of Asunción, the activities carried out were received with great anticipation!

With the support of the mobile clinic, free, high-quality health services were brought to more than two hundred students, families, and community members. During the day, general medical consultations were offered to adults, pediatric care was provided, rapid tests for sexually transmitted infections were administered, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was available, Pap smears were performed, and weight and height measurements were taken. Thanks to the use of a portable X-ray machine, four diagnostic X-rays were also taken.

Students from the “Elisa Alicia Lynch” School, the “Juan Ramón Dahlquist” National EMD College and the “Vice President Sánchez” National EMD College participated, along with members of the neighborhood community.

The event, held last Wednesday, September 24, included information booths on healthy eating, sexual and reproductive health, STI prevention, oral health, and self-care. There were raffles, interactive games, and dancing, as well as the distribution of educational materials and oral hygiene kits. As part of the gathering, work continued on the community mural created by students, a collective art project celebrating youthful energy and creativity.

The event brought together key figures from the 18th Health Region, including Dr. Oscar Fernández, as well as teams from the Department of Health Programs, the Department of Outreach, the National HIV/AIDS and STI Control Program (Pronasida), the Tuberculosis Program, the Department of Health Promotion, and the Department of Primary Health Care. Support was also provided by the director of the 3 de Febrero Family Health Unit (USF 3 de Febrero); representatives from the Center for Environmental and Social Studies (Ceamso); the Ministry of Children and Adolescents (MINNA); the National Tuberculosis Control Program; and Habitat for Humanity Paraguay.

This initiative was carried out with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), through the agreement “Improving access to and quality of public adolescent health services, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and prevention of adolescent pregnancy (APP)”.

Reaffirming our commitment to bringing comprehensive health services and educational opportunities to Paraguayan youth, sowing well-being, awareness, and a future in every community, is everyone’s responsibility.