PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE E PREVENÇÃO DE COMPLICAÇÕES METABÓLICAS: RELATO DAS VIVÊNCIAS DE ESTUDANTES DA SAÚDE EM AÇÃO EXTENSIONISTA

Abstract

Experiencing health beyond the classroom was the starting point for this extension initiative carried out by students from the Medicine and Pharmacy programs in the municipality of Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Activities were conducted in Primary Health Care Units and public spaces, focusing on the follow-up of individuals with metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Through home visits, educational actions, digital media usage, and in-person meetings, the project aimed to promote self-care and strengthen ties with the community. This experience provided students with direct contact with diverse social realities, encouraging an ethical, sensitive, and socially committed professional formation aligned with the principles of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). The results highlight that university extension can generate meaningful impacts both on the communities served and on the personal and professional development of the students involved.