On Tuesday 8th October, the University of Greenwich, hosted community leaders from the Carribean and African Health Network. The event showcased how the health system works and gave attendees space to discuss the specific healthcare needs of the Black community and what needs to be done to improve the community’s health and wellbeing outcomes. The afternoon provided a showcase of how healthcare students at the university learn through state-of-the-art technology and how inclusivity and diversity are built into the teaching.
For this, a situation was created: Taiwo Ahmed Tinubu, 79 years old has a diagnosis of dementia with co-morbidities of hypertension and diabetes. He is married to Evie Tinubu 75 years old who is in a nursing home. Their granddaughter, Abebi Bowie (34 years old), is 37 weeks pregnant with her third child. She has gestational diabetes. Her husband is at home with their children when she is called to care for her grandfather due to an acute episode he is having.
Guests were shown a video of the example patient Taiwo (played by an actor) and the events that led up to him having a fall. They were then taken outside where actors continued to play out the scenario with an ambulance and were then guided on an audio walk that showed the thoughts a person with dementia may have. Attendees were then treated to a visit to the simulation labs where a world class and lifelike mannequin (representing the example patient Abebi) with a pulse and the ability to make sound, gave birth. This extraordinarily realistic technology helps students prepare for the real world in an environment where it is safe to make mistakes.
Finally, the community leaders experienced an immersive scenario of being in a care home (as Evie, Taiwo’s wife was in), through virtual reality and the real-life experience of touch, as provided by actors in the scenario. It is another realistic way for students to learn more about what patients experience and therefore empower them to become better caregivers and, advocates and leaders of the future.
The day highlighted the university as a leader in teaching through the lens of diversity and inclusivity and how in turn this can improve health outcomes for communities once those students join the workforce.
