GMC organized its first annual physical exam for all students, and for staff and faculty who wanted to avail of the service. The activity included basic laboratory tests, physical examination, chest x-ray, dental examination and other tests upon recommendation of the attending physician from Friendly Care Inc. (Physiatry consult, audiometry, dental , ECG & Pap Smear).

The annual exam is seen as a preventive measure, to assess our students’ health and to identify health needs early enough. In the past, there were no exams conducted and some students’ health problems would worsen while in school, sometimes even leading them to withdraw from the college.

The activity, administered by Friendly Care, also included screening for mental health problems and physical disabilities, with the assurance that no student will be sent back home because of any health problem. Instead, GMC will find ways to help the student to overcome the health problem through sound medical advice.

More activities are being planned around health, for example, around dental care, after the physical examination revealed that most of our students have poor dental health, possibly related to the consumption of high sugar (in soft drinks especially) and in the lack of preventive dental care. Last year, GMC introduced a new course on self- and family care, which will now be required for all students and taught as PE 1. The course gives practical and scientific facts on all aspects of health, including nutrition and exercise needs.