Gifu University Student Volunteer Group 'Uniinkle' is awarded by the 'Network of Mayors Supporting People Requiring Medical Care.
Gifu University student volunteer group 'Uniinkle' was awarded the '1st Special Needs Support Award1' organized by the 'Network of Mayors Supporting People Requiring Medical Care.' On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, they reported their joy of receiving the award to President YOSHIDA Kazuhiro.
'Uniinkle' aims to create a society where children and adults requiring medical care, and their families do not face difficulties when going out. They investigated the installation status of universal seats (adult beds installed in multipurpose toilets) and created a 'Universal Seat Map.' This map is available in both paper and app versions, making it accessible to a wide range of generations. The map includes detailed information to help users visualize the location and environment of the seats in advance.
Reflecting on the activities, Ms. KATO Minori, a fourth-year student in the Domain of Cultural Studies, the Faculty of Regional Studies, who founded 'Uniinkle' last year, said, 'Due to the low awareness of universal seats, we had to start our survey by explaining what they are, which was more challenging than expected. However, I feel that society's understanding is gradually increasing.'
Ms. MASUDA Haruka, a second-year student in the Nursing Course, the School of Medicine, who took over as the representative, shared her future outlook: 'In some other prefectures, the installation of universal seats is mandated by local ordinances. Using these as references, I want to further develop our activities, focusing on Gifu.
President Yoshida said, "This award is a testament to the high regard for your activities contributing to the community and working towards creating a kinder society. I hope you will continue your efforts to promote the spread of universal seats starting from Gifu. Additionally, Gifu University's Health Administration Center has an agreement with the University of South Florida, the United States, collaborating broadly on public health initiatives. I encourage you to take advantage of such opportunities and expand your activities internationally in the future."
The activities of 'Uniinkle' are an excellent example of university students' proactive efforts towards creating a society where everyone can go out with peace of mind, and it is expected that their efforts will continue to expand.
1) organized by the 'Network of Mayors Supporting People Medical Care,' chaired by the Mayor of Hida City. It was established to recognize initiatives that support children and adults requiring medical care. This year marks the first time the award was held, and four out of 27 outstanding support activities nationwide were honored.
