BAU International University Batumi has supported a new social initiative that bridges the knowledge medical students acquire in the classroom with practices aimed at community health. Sixth-year students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Giga Gogadze and Mtvarisa Bolkvadze, carried out a preventive health-focused study for the local population living in the mountainous municipalities of Adjara. The students visited households in the region door-to-door, conducting basic health screenings and assessing the health status of a total of 65 individuals.

As a result of the screening, three cases of previously undiagnosed type 2 diabetes were identified. These individuals were advised to apply to healthcare institutions for further medical evaluation and appropriate follow-up. This outcome of the study demonstrated that preventive healthcare services can yield concrete results, both in terms of raising awareness and in identifying previously undiagnosed chronic conditions at an early stage.

The World Health Organisation states that early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is crucial to preventing the serious effects of the disease. Blood sugar measurements and regular health check-ups are among the primary tools for early diagnosis. Regarding hypertension, regular blood pressure measurement is also considered one of the fundamental steps for early detection and control. During the field study conducted by the students of BAU International University Batumi, the local population was provided with information on blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar control, healthy lifestyle habits, and the early recognition of chronic diseases.

One of the key highlights of the initiative was bringing health knowledge directly to the local community. The World Health Organisation also identifies the management of non-communicable diseases through early detection, screening, treatment, and complication monitoring at the primary care level as essential components of primary healthcare. For chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, individuals knowing their own health indicators and being directed to professional evaluation when necessary is vital for early intervention.

The students did not just perform measurements; they also shared fundamental information on how to maintain a preventive health approach in daily life. This framework provided an opportunity for the clinical knowledge and skills of medical education to be integrated with a community health perspective, allowing students to gain practical experience in health communication.

BAU International University Batumi announced that the initiative is not planned as a one-off study and will continue in the future. The goal is to support access to preventive healthcare services for individuals living in the mountainous municipalities of Adjara and to contribute to the early detection of chronic diseases. This continuity may also allow students to gain broader field experience in community health work.

The study carried out by Giga Gogadze and Mtvarisa Bolkvadze served as an example of sixth-year medical students gaining direct field experience in the fields of preventive health, early screening, and health communication. Conducted with the support of BAU International University Batumi, the initiative brought education, social responsibility, and community health together within the same project.