In an effort to better prepare University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students to make responsible alcohol usage choices, the has introduced the campus to , a national online program designed to educate college students about alcohol use, misuse and potential consequences.

AlcoholEdu features interactive modules featuring videos, quizzes and scenarios that cover topics related to alcohol and other drug consumption. The content is personalized for students at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.

“These initiatives promote the health and safety of students by equipping them with knowledge about the potential physical and mental health consequences of substance misuse, as well as strategies for responsible decision-making,” said Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Kuʻulei Salzer, from the University Health Services Mānoa, Health Promotion. “Moreover, education and ongoing support programs help students maintain their academic performance by mitigating the negative impact of substance misuse on concentration, memory and overall well-being.”

糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa students are strongly encouraged .

Fostering alcohol-healthy student relationships

In addition to AlcoholEdu, students are also encouraged to attend BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students), a program that provides them with personalized feedback on their alcohol use patterns and associated risks.

Through BASICS, students are educated on responsible drinking practices, coping mechanisms for managing stress and peer pressure, and goal-setting techniques, empowering students to develop healthier relationships with alcohol and navigate social situations more safely.

Students who feel they need additional support for their alcohol or other drug use can complete the to schedule a session with Salzer. More information can be found at the University Health Services website.

Perceptions of alcohol consumption

To determine student perceptions of alcohol usage, Health Promotion conducted a Mānoa Alcohol Project Survey, finding that 15% of students believe that their peers drink every day鈥攊n reality, the amount total is less than 1% of students drinking daily.

“This misperception could lead other students to believe that heavy drinking is a normal part of the college experience, when in reality, the majority of students are making low-risk choices when it comes to alcohol,” said Salzer. “By educating young adults about alcohol and drug use, we can bring more clarity and reinforce the actual substance use norms at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.”

Safe space to seek help

At 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, a is implemented with the primary goal of encouraging students to seek help in alcohol-related emergencies.

“We aim to create a safe space for students to ask for help, and under this policy, if they seek medical assistance for themselves or others, they are granted certain protections from disciplinary action related to underage drinking,” explained Theresa Crichfield, associate vice provost for student success and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa dean of students. “This is something we applied informally in the past, and when the Good Samaritan Policy was passed in 2015, we officially formalized this practice at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.”

By addressing substance abuse proactively, students are supported in their personal development, and empowered to navigate social pressures effectively, boosting their overall success and well-being.

For any questions or concerns, students can email alcohol@hawaii.edu, or visit the University Health Services website for more information.

The University Health Services 惭腻苍辞补 (糖心Vlog官方SM) is welcoming students and employees back to the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 campus for the fall 2021 semester with , a website promoting and supporting health and wellness.

CampusWell covers a variety of health-related subjects ranging from to . The site includes 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补-specific content including the winner of the .

The CampusWell site is one way 糖心Vlog官方SM is using to help keep the campus community healthy and aware of available services, such as the Health Promotion Program. This program provides services to assist students, faculty and staff in maintaining and improving their health and well-being, and to contribute to a healthy campus community. Activities range from health fairs and classroom presentations by peer educators, to mass media educational campaigns, to providing resource materials and individual counseling on health-related topics, including alcohol and other drugs.

糖心Vlog官方SM is responsible for the COVID-19 prevention efforts and contact tracing.

“Health and well being is of utmost importance, especially now,” said 糖心Vlog官方SM Health Promotion Chair Kristen Scholly. “The start of the school year often brings new challenges, and we want to remind our students that we have resources for them to help maintain their physical and mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Health Promotion Program is located at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services building, room 313-D, and 糖心Vlog官方SM is located near Kennedy Theatre. While 糖心Vlog官方SM鈥檚 primary service population is the students of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, many services also are available to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 faculty and staff and students from other 糖心Vlog官方 campuses.

Find more information about the services from 糖心Vlog官方SM at their website.

When the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 operations in March 2020, the University Health Services Manoa (糖心Vlog官方SM) became a leader in the campus response to the health crisis. Since its opening in 1932, the campus clinic has served primarily students by offering a wide range of health services and programs. In response to COVID-19, 糖心Vlog官方SM was part of the team that established the COVID-19 prevention guidelines adopted across the 10-campus system while also offering COVID-19 resource and support services to the 惭腻苍辞补 campus.

“The hardworking and dedicated team at University Health Services has been crucial to 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 response to the pandemic and to minimize the spread of the virus on campus,” said 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno.

From the beginning of the pandemic, the clinic never closed as it quickly adapted to add telehealth services to continue to provide medical care to the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 community.

“We expanded our role to keep our patients and campus community healthy and safe,” said 糖心Vlog官方SM Director Andrew Nichols. “We worked closely with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) and met frequently with campus leaders and the to quickly develop and implement a campus response plan.”

Mary G. Boland, dean of the , is co-lead of the Health & Well-Being Group, and worked with Nichols and the 糖心Vlog官方SM team to put together 惭腻苍辞补驶s COVID-19 response plan.

“糖心Vlog官方SM has been a key player from the very beginning of this pandemic,” said Boland. “Serving as the designated point of contact for all COVID-19 health matters is a huge undertaking. They have done it well, all while taking care of other health matters from our campus community.”

Managing COVID-19 on campus

糖心Vlog官方SM is responsible for testing, contact tracing and telehealth monitoring of all positive cases reported on the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 campus. The COVID-19 Response Team supports diagnosed or exposed individuals and monitors them daily through their isolation/quarantine period. They provide care instructions, advise when to seek medical attention and determine when individuals can return to work or class. They also identify close contacts and provide those individuals with support.

The health clinic is in regular communication with DOH and coordinates with multiple campus units including student housing, athletics, facilities and communications on numerous efforts including accommodating student residents who test positive, identifying rooms and buildings that have been exposed and the timely announcement of positive cases.

COVID-19 forced us all to make changes faster than were going to occur naturally. —Nichols

“Our team is committed to provide a rapid response to manage our campus cases. Our focus is on identifying and minimizing the spread of COVID-19 on campus,” said Nichols.

In the spring 2021 semester, 糖心Vlog官方SM started surveillance testing of student housing residents and staff. About 5% of the student resident population and 10% of the staff are tested each week for about 50 tests a week.

“Our point is to identify asymptomatic carriers of the virus,” said Nichols. “The results indicate a very low prevalence on campus, at least so far.”

Students and employees take the self-administered swab tests on a covered lanai outside the 糖心Vlog官方SM building on East-West Road. Couriers pick up the test specimens the same afternoon the tests are administered and the results come back in less than 48 hours.

A shift to telehealth

Prior to COVID-19, 糖心Vlog官方SM was predominantly a walk-in clinic that averaged 16,000 visits per year and only 25% were scheduled appointments. Patients now are seen by appointment only and telehealth sessions are offered.

“With so many students in the residence halls, so close to campus, we didn鈥檛 know how much need there was, but with telehealth, we鈥檝e had 600 telehealth visits in the first 10 months,” said Nichols. A portion of these sessions also included faculty and staff.

The clinic reduced operating hours in the initial months of COVID-19, but have since resumed normal business hours and have also started to accept a limited number of walk-in patients.

In addition, an after-hours phone line is available for those seeking to speak to a healthcare professional outside of the clinic’s normal operating hours by dialing the main office number (808) 956-8965.

“We made a remarkable shift. COVID-19 forced us all to make changes faster than were going to occur naturally,” said Nichols who also praised the collaboration among the many 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 units that had little interaction before the pandemic. “When we put our combined efforts together and enlist the expertise of many persons, it鈥檚 amazing what we can accomplish in such a short period of time.”

Nichols is hopeful that 糖心Vlog官方SM can begin to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, similar to how the clinic provides the flu and other vaccines. “The Get Vaccinated 糖心Vlog官方 campaign is helping to get to the critical mass, our students. We鈥檒l be better off once we get to herd immunity. However, it鈥檚 also important to realize with vaccines there won鈥檛 be any significant relaxation of mitigation measures for some time. Physical distancing and masks will not be going away anytime soon.”

Contact the clinic

糖心Vlog官方 the 糖心Vlog官方SM website to learn more about their services or call (808) 956-8965.

COVID-19 related questions can be emailed to uhsm.covid@hawaii.edu.

—By Arlene Abiang

The University of Hawaiʻi (TMCL) is ramping up operations to meet its mission of providing free, rapid result (24–48 hours) COVID-19 testing to those with limited access to healthcare and health insurance, as well as to first responders and health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. Opened in October 2020, TMCL is a certified lab at the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) established through a City and County of Honolulu/糖心Vlog官方 partnership with funding from the federal CARES Act.

“Our goal is to make sure that we can provide such tests to our community as soon as possible, making diagnosis and detection faster,” said TMCL principal investigator Vivek Nerurkar, professor and chair of the JABSOM Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology.

TMCL is developing and leveraging partnerships with and community organizations to reach underserved populations that include Filipinos, Pacific Islanders and the houseless. As of early December, the lab is processing about 70 tests per day from walk-ins at the community health centers alone.

“We are providing focused testing in these communities and have been successful through our partnerships with trusted organizations who are critical in encouraging people to come out and get tested,” said Rosie Alegado, a 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 associate professor of oceanography who serves as the lab鈥檚 community liaison lead. “We are intent on continuing to build relationships with grassroots community organizations to get these services to people who need it.”

That includes on-location testing events in the communities where the underserved reside. At one recent event in November, about 60 P膩lolo Valley Homes residents were tested at the public housing complex in collaboration with the Waik墨k墨 Community Health Center, Pacific Islander Service and the Honolulu Bible Church. With the rapid test results and community groups in place, a family with a positive test result was provided immediate assistance including a Waik墨k墨 hotel room to quarantine and testing for extended family members and other close contacts. Health experts say the virus can spread quickly in these types of communities if not aggressively addressed.

“If we鈥檙e going to stamp out COVID-19 in areas and communities with disproportionate infection rates, a high level of face-to-face care has to be given,” said Alegado. “This requires a network of interfacing services.”

TMCL is also providing houseless individuals with free COVID-19 testing through JABSOM鈥檚 , where 糖心Vlog官方 medical students and faculty provide free health services to unsheltered populations. Planning is underway with the University Health Services 惭腻苍辞补 to provide up to 200 tests a week to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty and staff, and to dental hygiene and medical students so that they are able to return to clinical training.

“The COVID-19 testing is meeting an immediate need, which we are honored to be able to provide,” said Nerurkar. “This is just the beginning. The lab鈥檚 long term goal is to enhance Hawaiʻi鈥檚 capacity to track emerging pathogens and develop diagnostic tools to detect tropical diseases such as dengue, Zika and rat lungworm.”

for information on how to get a COVID-19 test and for upcoming community testing events.

This message was shared with the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 on July 31, 2020.

Aloha 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 ʻohana,

In response to recent false reports of positive COVID-19 cases on campus, I have an important request of our campus community members. Please do not take it upon yourself to notify others if you suspect someone has the COVID-19 virus. Two recent false reports of COVID-19 cases on our campus have caused unnecessary disruption and stress, especially upon those falsely identified. Notification must only be handled by the University Health Services 惭腻苍辞补 (糖心Vlog官方SM) COVID-19 Resource Team, comprised of healthcare professionals, and/or the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Only they can officially verify the information and initiate the , which include notifying those who may have come into contact with a confirmed infected individual.

The Department of Health is responsible for the state鈥檚 pandemic response and is following a test-trace-isolate strategy, a widely accepted best practice in stopping the spread of the virus. This includes testing those who show symptoms or may have come into close contact with an infected person, isolating those who test positive, contacting everyone who may have been exposed, and continuing to test and isolate. If you have been in contact with someone who tests positive, you will be contacted by the Department of Health and/or the 糖心Vlog官方SM COVID-19 Resource Team.

If an employee or student tells you that they have COVID-19 or that they have been in close contact with someone who has it, refer them to the 糖心Vlog官方SM COVID-19 Resource Team at University Health Services 惭腻苍辞补 (808) 956-8965 or uhsm.covid@hawaii.edu). If you are legitimately concerned that the individual will not take appropriate action or if you suspect that someone has the virus, contact 糖心Vlog官方SM (808-956-8965 or uhsm.covid@hawaii.edu). Please remember that 糖心Vlog官方 strictly follows all privacy and confidentiality laws, including the (HIPAA) and the (FERPA), and will not disclose any personal information.

It is important to remain calm and not engage in discussing the situation with others outside of the reporting chain. I know that everyone is coming from a place of care and concern for our public health, but we need to respect the privacy and dignity of the individual(s) involved. Referral to appropriate resources is the best action we can take for the health of our community.

These protocols were developed by the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Health and Well-Being Working Group, headed by the deans of the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene.

Please remember to follow health and safety protocols: wear your face covering in public, practice physical distancing, wash your hands often, and stay home when you are sick. We all need to work together in order to keep our campus and community as safe as possible.

Me ke aloha,
Michael Bruno
糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Provost

Provost Michael Bruno hosted an online forum and answered questions from the campus community about plans for the upcoming fall 2020 semester.

The two-hour online forum was held on YouTube on Thursday, July 2. Forum moderator Amrita Mallik, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 campus climate officer, read questions sent in from students, faculty and staff covering a wide range of topics from housing, to masks, food services and more.

A video of the event can be watched above.

Plans for the fall semester are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

According to the , smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, and more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. People who stop using cigarettes and vape products take an important step toward a healthier life.

In celebration of the annual Great American Smokeout, a day designated by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to start their journey towards a smoke- and vape-free life, the will hold a free health and wellness event, on Thursday, November 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m. along McCarthy Mall, The Walking Path. The event will feature prizes, giveaways, resources and more.

From noon to 1 p.m., students, faculty and staff participating in this “moving health fair” will also distribute Quit-the-Nic kits along the one-mile walking path. The kits include health promotion swag and information to help smokers and vapers quit, and for friends and family who want to help.

Award-winning Walking Path

Quit the Nic will showcase the creation of a tobacco-free campus community walking path at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. Opened this fall, the one-mile walking path along McCarthy Mall provides students, employees and visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful campus by taking a tobacco-free one-mile stroll, speed walk or jog for clean air and good health.

The one-mile loop is marked with 30 bright yellow and blue signs with the start and ending point located by Keller Kiosk, a spot on campus previously known as a place where tobacco users would go between classes to smoke and vape.

The 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 campus was recognized by the American Cancer Society for the creation of the walking path and received the Outstanding Innovation in Campus Education and Engagement award.

“The walking path and its location signify the hard work put toward achieving a tobacco-free campus community at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and that there has been a permanent shift toward healthier behaviors with more people choosing to now go out for a walk, not for a smoke,” said Kristen Scholly, health promotions chair at University Health Services.

The event and the walking path are part of and is supported by The American Cancer Society Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative grant. It is a collaborative effort by 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 offices such as communications, parking, facilities, health services, and others.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Community grants help roll out tobacco-free initiatives, February 19, 2019

The University of Hawaiʻi received two grants from the and the totaling nearly $40,000 to support its tobacco-free campus efforts to provide a healthy environment for all students, faculty and staff. The American Cancer Society awarded 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 a $20,000 Tobacco-free Generation Campus Initiative grant to encourage students to stop tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and vape products. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health provided a $19,300 grant to support 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 implementation of its system-wide tobacco-free campus initiative.

Grant funds will be used to develop messaging and disseminating educational initiatives to the 糖心Vlog官方 community about the 糖心Vlog官方 tobacco-free law. The law prohibits tobacco products—electronic cigarettes and vapes as well as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and all forms of smoking and chewing tobacco—on all campuses and properties including what may have been previously designated smoking areas.

“We are extremely grateful to the American Cancer Society and the State Department of Health for these grants, which will be a huge boost to the momentum of the 糖心Vlog官方 Tobacco Control Task Force,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner. “With nicotine use and addiction becoming a growing health concern among adolescents and young adults, as well as affecting others on campus, these grants will notably elevate the health of the 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana.”

As part of the two grants, the University Health Services Health Promotion Program in conjunction with a 糖心Vlog官方 Tobacco Control Task Force reviews details of the state law as it pertains to the 糖心Vlog官方 Tobacco-Free policy and will track dissemination of its information, as well as evaluate project reach and impact.

More about 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 tobacco-free campuses initiative

The tobacco-free 糖心Vlog官方 law was passed during the 2018 legislative session as the result of collaborative efforts by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, and community advocates, including 糖心Vlog官方 student organizations. The (SHAC) has been a strong advocate working for a tobacco-free system.

SHAC officer Kate Magno stated, “We have supported a few different tobacco-free bills, starting with the T21 law, which raised the legal age of tobacco use in Hawaiʻi from 18 to 21. Finally, we get to today where SHAC and many other organizations pushed for a tobacco-free 糖心Vlog官方 system.”

Added SHAC member Ruthie Diaz, “We care deeply about everyone鈥檚 health, so we pushed to move these bills into law to protect youth from becoming addicted to tobacco products.”

Chelsea Gonzales, a student at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 and the president of a registered independent organization on campus called Breathe Aloha was also actively involved in the passage of the tobacco-free 糖心Vlog官方 law. “Breathe Aloha Club wants to make sure that our peers can avoid addiction to tobacco products and also protect the rights of everyone on campus who want to avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke. We all deserve a healthy place to live, work, and learn.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosts the on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Campus Center Courtyard. This year’s theme is “love is in the air” in an effort to promote healthy relationships for all 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa students.

The purpose of the Condom Fair is to promote a healthier lifestyle through the appropriate and consistent use of condoms, healthy sexual decision-making and good communication. The Condom Fair is not meant to promote sexual activity, however for students who do choose to be sexually active, condoms are the safest way to protect against sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. The Condom Fair 2017 aims to educate students about healthy relationships in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

This year’s Condom Fair will offer educational activities such as the Condom Race and “Pin the Condom on Jack.” Prizes and giveaways such as condom roses, condom lollipops, educational material, candy and other fun Valentine’s Day items will also be available.

The Condom Fair is hosted by the , Health Promotion Program and the

The University of Hawaiʻi is committed to supporting the ’s efforts to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A.

The Department of Health is currently investigating . As of August 10, 2016, 168 cases have been confirmed, with most occurring on the island of Oʻahu.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection. The virus is found in the stool of people with the infection and is usually spread by consuming food or water contaminated by the virus. It can also be spread through close personal/sexual contact. Household contacts are at particular risk for Hepatitis A transmission.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

• fever
• fatigue
• headache
• body ache
• loss of appetite
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• dark colored urine
• pale colored stools
• yellow discoloration (jaundice) of the skin and eyes

Steps to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A

1. Get vaccinated
   The Hepatitis A vaccine is highly effective in preventing Hepatitis A infection and is administered in two doses, six months apart. The Hepatitis A vaccine can be received at (PDF). has a small supply of the vaccine.
2. Stay home if you are sick
   This common sense practice can help restrict the spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis A.
3. Wash your hands
   Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to help avoid getting sick and spreading the disease.
4. Watch for symptoms of Hepatitis A (listed above)
   Monitor your health and contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms.
5. See your healthcare provider
   If you have been in contact with someone who has Hepatitis A, call your healthcare provider right away.