Fanshawe College has re-introduced the health care and first aid vending machines. The Health Bots were installed in the Student Center not long before COVID hit. Unfortunately they didn’t have big success, because all the studies were mostly online. Now that the students are back, the FSU office considers it essential to have bots in school. The machines have personal hygiene, first aid items, as well as condoms.
The idea was born after the sexual violence prevention advisor for Fanshawe Leah Marshall saw similar machine in one of the colleges in United States. The same year the Health bot started functioning at Fanshawe. It is sponsored by FSU, and refilled as needed, usually every season.
“They have been growing in popularity, I’m responsible for refilling the products, it’s on demand during the school year. Now once the students are back I can see the product moving,” says Rodney Sutton, building manager for FSU.
Not a lot of newcomers know about the machines, that’s why every year “Interrobang” – FSU sponsored newspaper has an article about the bots, that’s included in Sexual Awareness Issue.
“The machines were promoted both by “Interrobang” in the newspaper and online. Leah Marshall has done other sexual awareness events as well,” adds Sutton.
The Health bots are created mostly for the students who live on campus. They are designed to help young people to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
There are two spots at Fanshawe where you can purchase the necessary products – at the main FSU building near Oasis and at Falcon House (A-residence).
Fanshawe College is one of the first colleges in Canada to introduce the Health bots and help students understand the importance of sexual awareness. The FSU is ready to expand, depending on how things go this year.
