This event was organised by the NationalForum for Health and Wellbeing (NFHW)and was jointly sponsored by the RotaryClub of Leyland and Academy@WordenLeyland.

IntroductionThe origins of the Health Mela conceptdate back to Preston in 2001, when agroup of health care professionals andexecutive members of the PrestonGujarat Hindu Society (GHS), led byProfessor Romesh Gupta OBE and IshwerTailor JP MBE DL, set up the LancashireGujarat Health Users Forum. This wasaimed to improve health education andaccess to health information for the localsouth Asian community. The event wasplanned to promote healthy living andbuilt on the idea that a Mela (a gatheringor festival) provides an opportunity tomobilise the community to take an activeand enjoyable part in securing its ownhealth and wellbeing. Over the years thescope of the Health Mela expanded tobecome a multi-ethnic event taking in allsections of the community.

In 2012, the Rotary Club of Leylandbecame partner and sponsored their firstHealth Mela organized by the NFHW. Sincethen Rotary has participated at Bolton,Manchester, Bradford, Fylde Coast, Londonas well as in India. The experience of directservice to the community was compellingand fulfilling. The Rotary District ofCumbria and Lancashire has taken this asone of their community projects. RotaryInternational has now provided funds tohold several such events in other hard toreach communities within the district.

Another major milestone for NFHW hasbeen the acquisition in 2013 of apermanent office in the Bolton Onebuilding at the Centre for Research inHealth and Wellbeing at the University ofBolton. This now functions as the homebase of the organisation.

Breakfast meetingEvery Health Mela starts with a breakfastmeeting that is held before the formal

Caroline MacEwen, President of the RoyalCollege of Ophthalmologists accompaniedby her husband a distinguishedcardiologist Professor Stuart Pringle,President of the Scottish Cardiac Society.

Professor MacEwen noted theincreasing demands being made onophthalmology services in the UK, with a30% increase recorded over the last fiveyears and welcomed the fact that theMela was providing a platform topromote the importance of eye health.Both Professor MacEwen and ProfessorPringle emphasised the importance ofgetting people to take responsibility for

opening of the mela. It provides aplatform where the chief guest and theinvited community and regional healthleaders can discuss a specific local healthissue. This year’s theme for the meetingwas ‘Improving Vision and ReducingHeart Attacks’.

The proceedings were opened by theMayor of South Ribble, Councillor MaryGreen, who expressed her delight that somany people and organisations had gottogether to offer such a wonderfulopportunity for health improvement tothe people of South Ribble.

Chief guest for the day was Professor

Rotary Club of Leylandwww.rotaryclubleyland.org.uk

Report on the 4th LEYLAND HEALTH MELASaturday 12th September 2015

Venue: Academy@Worden, Leyland

www.nfhw.org.ukCharity No. 1159443

their own health. They expressed strongsupport for the role Health Melas canplay in achieving this.

During the meeting, the audienceengaged in a lively debate regardingthese important health issues anddiscussed ways to tackle these at localand national levels. It was agreed thatvoluntary organisations such as NFHWand Rotary and also the local schools andcommunity can play a significant role toachieve just that.

The Health MelaThe Mela was officially opened byProfessor Caroline MacEwen who made apoint of congratulating the organisers forholding the event in a school. Sheemphasised that schools are the heart ofthe community and as such is an idealvenue for these events. She applaudedthe partnership with Academy@Wordenas an inspirational collaboration thatinvolves students in health education andhighlights the importance of living ahealthy life styles. She added that regularexercise and eating healthy food areessential for health and wellbeing.

After formal opening ceremony theaudience was entertained with a livelydisplay from Worden’s award winningteam of Cheerleaders. Visitors then hadthe opportunity to look over stallsrepresenting more than 60 organisationsincluding NHS Trusts, voluntary bodiesand other health related groups.

More than 1000 visitors, exhibitors andstudents combined to ensure that theHealth Mela was a roaring success.Throughout the day visitors werewelcomed, guided and entertained by ateam of enthusiastic cheerful and verywell informed volunteer students fromAcademy@Worden.

Health Checks at the MelaThe Health Mela provided visitors withthe opportunity to take a comprehensiveseries of health checks. These included:

Eye checksThis year complete vision checks werecarried out by a team of optometrists,nurses and consultant ophthalmologistsassisted by trainees and medicalstudents. The team included thecoordinator Consultant Dr Abha Guptafrom Eye Pavilion Edinburgh, Mrs RoxaneHillier, Consultant Ophthalmologist fromNewcastle and Mr Bhattacharya,Consultant Ophthalmologist and histeam from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

More than 35 eye tests wereconducted. Several issues were dealt withthen and there; 5 cases were referred totheir GP for a change of medication and 1case was referred for further consultantintervention. The medical and nursing

staff and students involved found theexperience very rewarding.

The Health ‘MOT’Visitors of all ages were invited to takea Health MOT and 150 took advantageof the range of health test andprofessional health counselingopportunities on offer.

Total no counseled:............106 (70.6%)Referred to GP:..........................39 (36.8%)Raised BP..................................(>150/90) - 5Raised glucose in people withoutdiabetes...............................(>7.0 mmol) - 9Raised Cholesterol..........................>6 – 15

> 5 - 57Raised BP & Cholesterol....................... – 5Raised BP & Glucose..................................- 1Raised Glucose & Cholesterol............- 3Raised BP, Cholesterol & Glucose...- 1

The Health Checks andactivities for childrenThe Health Mela at Academy@Wordenintroduced health checks for children forthe very first time. 35 children had theirheight, weight and BMI checked andwere given health advice. In the Teddybear clinic they learnt about theequipment used by health professionalsin health care settings and had theopportunity to check out the health oftheir favorite playmate.

A number of activities such as thetrampoline, rowing and cookerydemonstration by the school toencourage healthy exercise and healthyeating turned out to be very popular. Themany other attractions on offer included;the chance to try out activities associated

focus and our commitment to eradicationof Polio in the world and just how close weare to achieving this aim. I also remind youof how Rotary addresses health issues inthe local community by holding StrokeAwareness days in local supermarkets inpartnership with the Stroke Associationand partners other health initiatives byfacilitating events for community basedexperts to deliver their message. This is atrue example of what working togetherwith other organisations in our localcommunities can achieve.”

Mr Chris Catherall, Head teacher of theAcademy@Worden, reflecting on theday’s event added: “It was a pleasureworking with everybody to host the 4thAnnual Health Mela. It was a greatexperience for the governors, staff andpupils of the Academy. The day was full offun and educational opportunities; childrenlearnt a lot about healthy living andhealthy eating. The figures from the healthcheck appear to be quite significant. I willbe pleased to host the event next year.”

PublicityThe event was systematically publicisedusing social media and News Releases tomedia outlets, including newspapers,radio and television. This helped promotemuch helpful local coverage both beforeand after the event. Advantage was alsotaken of local health domains such aspharmacies and doctors surgeries andposters and flyers were distributed tothese areas. Flyers were also widelydistributed in the local area. With thehelp of the School, posters weredisplayed in a number of locations across

community involvement in healthpromotion and its success is reflected in thenumbers who attend and the year on yeardemand.”

Professor Pringle, President of theScottish Cardiac Society added: “It wasreal privilege to be involved in the LeylandHealth Mela. The NHS is currently stretchedwith a finite budget and increasinglyexpensive modern healthcare. This makes itall the more important for individuals andcommunities to take responsibility for theirown health to reduce the risk of heart attacksand other forms of cardiovascular disease.

I had read about last year’s LeylandHealth Mela and to witness it firsthand thisyear was a real treat. I was particularlystruck by the enthusiasm of theparticipants and the attendees. What awonderful example of a communityworking together with a common purposefor the benefit of all. This wasmultidisciplinary team working at its best.

Congratulations to all for making thisevent so enjoyable and successful. I will takelessons learnt back for discussion at theCouncil of the Scottish Cardiac Society.”

Arthur Jones, District Governor ofRotary Cumbria and Lancashire alsocomplimented the organisers saying: “Ijoin Professor Caroline MacEwan incongratulating the organisers for holdingthe event in a school and in emphasisingthe point that schools are the heart of thecommunity and as such is an ideal venuefor these events to be located. I take thisopportunity to highlight Rotary’scommitment to supporting health andwellbeing among the communities weserve and remind you of Rotary’s area of

with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awardscheme The smoothie Bike was inconstant demand throughout the day asvisitors pedaled their way to a nutritiousand refreshing drink. The children of theschool contributed towards fruitcollection as part of a non-uniform day.

A popular, if somewhat gruesome,alternative to face painting was providedby the young artists who offered visitorsrealistic looking wounds for treatment onthe First Aid Injuries stall.

Comments on the DayProfessor Romesh Gupta OBEChairman of NFHW and President ofLeyland Rotary Club said: “In bringingthe Health Mela to a local secondary schoolwe knew that we would get our messageright into the heart of the community. Ourexpectations have been completely fulfilledand we are really grateful for the amazingsupport we have had from the school. Thevolunteer students did excellent work. Theyare superb ambassadors for the ideals ofcommunity health and wellbeing.”

Chief Guest Professor CarolineMacEwen was equally positive: “Manythanks, again, for inviting Stuart and me tothe very successful health mela onSaturday. We both found it enjoyable,informative and an excellent day of healthpromotion. You, your team and allstakeholders deserve full plaudits. TheLeyland health mela was an excellent dayfor recognising that good health is not apassive state, but one which involves activeparticipation and enjoyment. The emphasison involvement of the entire communitywas impressive and including eye healthemphasised to all ages that our eyes andvision are to be valued and treasured. Thishealth mela is an exemplar of true

Our Partner organisations in the Health MelaThe major partners associated with this Health Mela were:

● Academy@Worden

● The University of Central Lancashire

● The Rotary Club of Leyland

● Lancashire Teaching HospitalsNHS Foundation Trust

● Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

● The Gujarat Hindu Society

● South Ribble Borough Council

● Roche diagnostics

● The ‘Blood Drop’ team fromLancashire Teaching Hospitals

● ‘Health Olympics Team’; Medicalstudents from the University ofManchester

● The University of Bolton

● The Holistic Living Group, Preston

● The Creative Communities Group UK

● The North West Ambulance ServicesNHS Foundation Trust

ReikiThe visitors could avail themselves ofa Reiki taster session provided byHolistic Living Group of Preston. 10 volunteers were involved in theReiki taster session. 27 people tookadvantage of the sessions. The agegroup participating was between 6years to 75 years. All had amazingrelaxation experiences.

Leyland and Radio Lancashire hosted aspecial programme on the event.

We had the support of the LancashireCare NHS Foundation Trust and theLancashire Teaching Hospitals NHSFoundation Trust. They played animportant part in making the publicaware of the Mela by cascadinginformation to their own contacts.

Feedback from exhibitorsand visitorsThe feedback from the visitors and theexhibitors was very positive andencouraging. All the exhibitors indicatedthat would like to participate in the nextevent in 2016. The involvement of theschool, staff, students and governors washighly appreciated.

Overall, the Leyland Health Mela wasseen to have delivered on its promises. Itserved as an excellent platform for

networking and provided an opportunityfor healthcare students to interact withexhibitors and members of the public todiscuss health related concerns and togain experience in providing medicalinformation and guidance. We can alllearn from each other in this type ofengaging and inspiring environment.

AcknowledgementsThanks must go to all the members of theNFHW, Rotary International (in particularmembers of the Rotary Club of Leyland),the staff and students of the school,partner organisations and everybody elsewho contributed to make this event asuccess. The 100% commitment of all theparticipants is remarkable. The time spentpreparing and presenting their workhasn’t gone unnoticed. Their contributionsare highly valued and we hope that theywill continue to support us in future.

We record with thanks the additional

If you or your organisation/community would like to get involved in thisexciting journey, please contact the Secretary at the address below for details:

Sarifa Kabir, Secretary, NFHWCentre for Research in Health and WellbeingUniversity of Bolton, Deane Road. BL3 5AB

Email: sarifa.kabir@nfhw.org.uk

www.nfhw.org.ukWorking towards healthier living in partnership with:

support in the form of test materials andequipment which was provided by Roche.

The National Forum forHealth and Wellbeing andthe Health Mela movementInvolving communities in a meaningfulway in the pursuit and promotion of theirown health and wellbeing has been theprimary objective of the Health Melasince its inception in 2001. The NationalForum for Health and Wellbeing hasworked in accordance with this principle,enabling it to develop a realistic structureand reach the hearts and minds of urbancommunities. Partnerships with localRotary Clubs, Universities, Schools andother organisations help to spread themessage and the concept. These ideascan also assist other groups who areconsidering putting on their own HealthMelas or similar events.