Salesian university students, staff look at a range of health information

(MissionNewswire) Salesians have launched the latest edition of the Salesian Missionary Academic Volunteering project, which is part of UniSalesiano, the Salesian University in the Campo Grande Province of Brazil. The project brought together 50 participants including professors, students, coordinators and pastoral support staff from the university. This is the largest number of volunteers the project has had at one time.  

The group conducted research and offered services in the Indigenous villages of Meruri, home to the Bororo people, and São Marcos, home to the Xavante people. The data will be used by volunteers in the coming years, contributing to the continuity of and further academic and community actions. 

Volunteers looked at a range health information, including levels of physical activity, access to laboratory tests related to parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract, children’s vaccination schedules and more. Physiotherapy students analyzed people with physical disabilities, collecting data on age, gender, motor disabilities and locomotion aids.

Medical students in three groups mapped the epidemiological profile of the patients, identifying the degree of schooling and leisure activities, eating habits, tobacco use, and whether the patients lived with animals. They also looked at what professionals the population sees related to health care, the ease of access to treatment and use of medication.  

In addition, law students carried out a detailed investigation of the qualification of marriage and the effects of marriage, while advertising and public relations students mapped the media habits in the villages by analyzing the interaction with traditional media and the internet to identify what influences them related to education and schooling. 

Father Paulo Jácomo, vice-rector for pastoral care at UniSalesiano, said, “Previously most of the data had been collected by Salesians, but now the university is taking on a crucial role in the development and expansion of this work.”  

Fr. Jácomo added, “The integration and familiarity built over time will translate into significant progress and create a model for how education can generate concrete actions with a strong social impact.”  

The research is also important for continuing education at the university. Prof. André Ornellas, vice-rector for teaching, research and postgraduate studies, said, “The project promotes significant personal and professional growth of our students and the activities carried out in Indigenous communities generate valuable data, contributing to academic and social progress.”  

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Sources:  

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)   

ANS – Brazil – Salesian Missionary Academic Volunteering (VAMS) reaches record  

Salesian Missions – Brazil 

World Bank – Brazil