In honor of World Health Day, celebrated on April 7, Afya, the Brazilian higher education group for medical and health education, which is part of the Bertelsmann Education Group, launched a national campaign focused on the well-being of physicians with the slogan “If physicians don’t take care of themselves, everyone feels it”. The initiative reinforces the importance of self-care among healthcare professionals and calls for a collective effort to improve quality of life, acknowledging the physical and emotional challenges and heavy workloads they face.
Personal health must be part of a physician’s daily life
At the heart of the campaign is “Médicos em Movimento”, a community created by Afya to encourage healthy habits and strengthen mutual support among doctors and medical students. In addition to digital content related to topics such as mental health, physical activity, and work-life balance, the initiative also focuses on engagement, which includes physical activity challenges conducted through the Strava app, as well as in-person experiences in different regions of Brazil, such as road races Participants receive a special starter kit. Community voices underline the personal impact of the initiative: “‘Médicos em Movimento’ helped me stay active during my pregnancy and reinforced the importance of self-care. Taking care of one’s health also needs to be part of a physician’s routine”, says Laura Alves, a medical student at Afya. Fabiano Serra, an obstetrician-gynecologist, emphasizes: “Exercise has always been part of my routine, but Médicos em Movimento has given me a new incentive. Sometimes, the problem isn’t getting started – it’s having one more reason to keep going.”
The campaign is complemented by a variety of activities at Afya locations throughout April, as well as a comprehensive communication strategy. This includes a campaign video on YouTube, a dedicated landing page with further information and ways to get involved, and a dedicated Spotify playlist. Through all these initiatives, Afya aims to build an ecosystem of ongoing support, emphasizing that caring for caregivers is an essential step toward promoting more sustainable health for everyone.
