I do not like the feeling of going to the hospital, but at the same time, it makes me feel at ease knowing what is going on with my body. 

Visiting the doctor costs a ton of money these days; you can rarely find an affordable discount for third-level students. Well, other than the free STI tests and free contraceptives for women aged 17-31 in Ireland, there are still gaps existing regarding health checks. 

When I was in the Philippines, I remember having a mandatory body health check every year since I was in Elementary. We get free eye and dental checks every year, and imagine how this program went until I graduated from Junior high school. What a great initiative for students, right? 

Also, other than eye and dental checks, we get to check our BMI (Body Mass Index) yearly to improve our physical health. It is essential to know your own body, especially after we are growing constantly; our body changes in ways we cannot imagine. 

For example, a month before I moved here to Ireland in 2018, I got my breast operated on. Not for enhancement but to remove a small mass of tissue called “fibroadenoma.” I was only 16 when I figured out this small mass on my breast; it was painful. Finding out I had fibroadenoma was because of my awareness about checking my body.

I remember joining a small chit-chat with my classmates about how they check their breasts in case of a cyst growth, and unexpectedly, I figured out I had a bump the size of a pea. 

Not the best way to learn about your body, but it was a great observation. We knew how to check our breasts because of the constant workshops or classes on how to be healthy. 

Other than that, we get to figure out what should be improved with our bodies. I was told my teeth were “a bit” crooked, and I had to visit the orthopedic dentist in our area to avoid teeth problems. However, I was not bothered to follow what they wanted me to do. 

Roughly around 7 to 9  years later, I now have a problem with my gums, wisdom tooth, and, in general, my dental health. Apparently, my wisdom teeth had grown sideways, and I had to get them operated on, or else my bottom front teeth would suffer, as well as my gums.

If only I had had continuous dental checkups, I would have known what to do with them. Now, I suffer from toothaches that should have been avoided years ago if only I had listened to them. 

Anyway, there should be a mandatory health checkup for third-level college students. Maybe checking in for symptoms of fatigue or other illnesses, or even a sexual health check every other month — for free. 

Why should it be free? With the amount of money being paid by students yearly, the cost of health checks should be free. At no cost, students should freely be aware of their health, making sure that they are perfectly healthy. 

In other words, even though I’m afraid of needles, I find hospitals unsettling, and the thought of being admitted to a hospital makes me queasy. I would still like to know how I am in terms of my health. What do you think? Am I right?

To be honest, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.  

This was written by our contributing writer, Hannah Daygo.