Arts in Medicine Fellowship Walks for Mental Health in Port Harcourt

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Arts in Medicine Fellowship, a non-profit organisation, took its one-day photo walk for Mental Health and Social Prescribing at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

The walk, held this April, was part of its efforts to leverage creativity as a healing tool for mental health and wellbeing. 

“When combined with walking outdoors, creative arts is the ultimate remedy for the unrelenting stressors of daily life,” according to the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship Alumni Coordinator for West Africa Region, Ashley Ajumoke Stewart.

Through her creative expertise as an artist, Stewart continues to bring together the intergenerational population of the University of Port Harcourt community to this one-day photo walk. 

Since its inception, the Arts in Medicine Fellowship has promoted the building of healthier communities and well-being in Nigeria and worldwide through the intersection of creative practices for overall well-being. 

In the words of Stewart, the lead organiser of the photo walk and lecturer of Visual Arts at the Department of Fine Arts and Design, the foundation focuses on medical humanities and seeks to promote art engagements to alleviate pains and improve the quality of life of families, patients, and healthcare professionals. 

The four-hour event included activities such as photography, social interaction, walking, and a virtual exhibition. “It pulled the community of walkers together in immensely beneficial ways,” she added.