HealthFest is one of the Malta Medical Students Association’s (MMSA) biggest annual events. Its aim is to celebrate our health with the general public and promote and overall healthy lifestyle.

The theme of this year’s HealthFest is: „Health; Our Greatest Wealth“. This year’s event starts off on the 18th and 20th of March at the University of Malta, where students are encouraged to participate in interactive competitions involving physical activity, where they could have the chance to win great prizes. They may also take part in leisurely activities from which all proceeds will go to Puttinu Cares. Also, students can have their blood pressure, blood glucose and BMI measured, and also have the opportunity to become organ donors.

On the 19th of March, being a Public Holiday, a competition is going to be organized in the limits of Rabat, Dingli and Buskett, where students team up to take part in a walk in the Maltese countryside, with health-oriented challenges along the way. This serves as a fun way to spend a day off outdoors and empowering their knowledge about public health issues.

HealthFest reaches its peak on the final day, on Saturday the 21st of March, where the celebrations are moved to the De Valette Square in Valletta, to target the general public. Apart from our usual free blood glucose, blood pressure and BMI testing, the public also has the opportunity to get to know more about our various health campaigns, held all year round. OS4U, a supplier of healthy food products will also be present to promote their products to the public, especially targeted to those with specific food requirements. An interactive Taekwondo demonstration will also take place to promote the sport and encourage people to enrol and promote physical activity. A children’s area will also be present for children to learn more about their health.

Between the 16th and 21st of March, a „Healthy Lifestyles Conference is also taking place. The conference involves daily 2-hour sessions (excluding the 19th of March), where participants get to know more about different health issues, the governments‘ position on these issues and debate together what can be done regarding these issues. A policy paper will then be drafted from the outcome of these sessions, which will be presented on the final day of the conference.

The topics will be as follows:
16th March – Alcohol and Substance Abuse
17th March – Smoking ·
18th March – Youth Pregnancies ·
20th March – Mental Health and the Youth ·
21st March – Life is Worth Living – A Youth’s Perspective to a Healthy Life.

The sessions between the 16th and 20th of March will take place at the University of Malta Campus, while the last session will take place at the De Valette Square. Apart from presenting a policy paper, the MMSA is also presenting another project which has been initiated this term.