“I want to be a Doctor when I grow up”
17 March 08
Pro-active local medical practice Medicine on Second who were last year awarded Queensland Practice of the Year have been overwhelmed with the response to their recently launched “Big Play Out” initiative where a doctor and a children's author visit local day care centres to increase small children's health awareness.
To date over 25 day care centres around the Coast have registered for “Big Play Outs” to be held at their premises.
“We're really pleased there has been such a strong uptake on this. It is our aim to not just be doctors sitting behind an intimidating desks waiting for sick people to come in, but rather to actually go out into the community and speak about prevention rather than cure and show how much we really care by educating kids (and their parents) about health. With the response we've had it seems the Big Day Outs are ‘just what the doctor ordered' for the centres,” jokes Practice Manager of Medicine on Second, Nicky Jardine.
Straight after the Easter break on Thursday March 27 Medicine on Second will visit McKenzie Child Care centre, a Maroochydore based centre located in front of Stella Maris and media are welcome to attend.
As per the other Big Play Outs, Medicine on Second will provide a doctor who will speak generally about health and their role as a doctor, local children's author Cheryl Ryan will read her book, Who is George? about a little boy in India (George) who urgently needs medical attention and a health conscious morning tea snack and goodie bags will be provided free of charge to all the participating children.
“Because we are big believers in charitable endeavours, we've teamed up with Cheryl to support her charity for these events. Although there is no obligation to buy her book, if the centre, staff, or any attending parents (who we encourage to attend) do decide that they would like to secure a copy, 50% of the proceeds will go towards a project exactly like that described in the book - building a hospital in Dharamsala, India where currently people need to travel over six hours when they require medical attention,” says Jardine.
“My motivation in being a part of the initiative is to raise local children's awareness of how lucky they are to have such close access to first world medical facilities and also to raise further funds towards the charity,” says Cheryl Ryan.
“My daughter Maggie is 6 now but the majority of children I am reading the book to are aged 2 – 5 years and it is really pleasing to see that even at this age they seem to really be able to grasp the concept of what the book is about, and I hope that this is something they take away with them for the rest of their lives.”
People interested in hosting Cheryl or a Big Play Out at their educational facility should contact Nicky Jardine of Medicine on Second on 07 5443 9455 or practice.manager@medicineonsecond.com.au. The book can be purchased from http://www.maggiesdreamcatcher.org.au/ . Donations are also welcome via the website. For more information about the practice see: http://www.medicineonsecond.com.au/.