QU Health at Qatar University (QU)) launched a one-month campaign ‘This is Public Health’ under the title ‘Enhancing People’s Activity towards a Healthier World’. The campaign included many activities and events aimed at promoting the general health of individuals through physical activity and educational and interactive booths among members of the community.
The QU Health colleges (College of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, College of Dental Medicine and College of Nursing), participated in the campaign by conducting a number of activities and events, in person and through social media platforms. The College of Health Sciences presented many events, such as educational workshops on proper nutrition to promote mental health, yoga activities and school visits as well as interactive events to promote healthy lifestyle with football games to promote FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This includes health pulse awareness infographics on proper nutrition to prevent cancer.
In addition, The College of Medicine participated in an awareness video about breast cancer and methods of prevention and treatment in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation and an interview with Chef Aisha Al-Tamimi, a breast cancer survivor, to talk about her experience and encourage women to have early screening for prevention. Moreover, the College of Pharmacy also participated in awareness segments on the dangers of sports doping.
The launch was attended by 300 people from the health sector in addition to 50 people from partners to celebrate this day in Ibn Al-Bitar Building as part of the campaign. It targeted all members of the health and medical sciences sector from various health disciplines, including students, faculty and staff. These events aimed to strengthen the mental health and well-being for all, in terms of reviewing practical well-being strategies, and science-based skills to promote mental health and well-being, psychiatric illness and advocate for early screening to manage depression and anxiety to create an atmosphere of connectedness and social belonging, as well as an outpouring of joy and positive energy among participants.
In addition, QU Health organized a videography competition on social media platforms to showcase physical activity in line with the country’s celebrations of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with a live broadcast interview with coach Abdullah Al Kaabi, activist on social media platforms and founder of Athlete 13 Academy. The interview was conducted by QU student Nour Hassan, who specializes in nutrition from the College of Health Sciences.
This campaign also aimed to raise awareness on the importance of public health, both physically and psychologically, by presenting some preventive strategies that aim to protect the mental and physical health of individuals in cooperation with all departments of QU, the Ministry of Health, the Primary Health Care Corporation, and health centers in Qatar.
Prof. Asma Al-Thani, Vice President of Health and Medical Sciences stressed the importance of the campaign in consolidating the efforts of the QU Health colleges and highlighting their role as one cluster whose primary mission is to promote public health, encourage physical activity and pay attention to the mental health of individuals.
On this occasion Dr. Alaa El-Awisi, Director of Clinical Operations and Engagement in QU Health, noted that the campaign seeks to enhance the general health of all, encourage them to move, and its positive impact on mental health. She also spoke about the sector’s focus on campus environment, and the various activities that students participate in to promote health and well-being.
Dr. Ghadir Al-Jayyousi, Assistant Professor of Public Health also mentioned, “It was very impressive to observe how everyone at the event, faculty, students, and alumni, was passionate about public health and showed the utmost desire and responsibility towards promoting the health and wellbeing of the QU community and beyond.”
Noora Al-Abdullah, a fourth-year medical student, commented: “My aim is to raise awareness about good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle and their relationship to our mental health. Our focus was on gut health and its great role in mental stability.”
Khaled Al-Zawawi, a fifth-year medical student, and Reem Abdel-Aal said that they are trying to develop an app to help everyone and mainly teenagers cope with the many stressors and the pressure they endure in modern life. “When we pitched the idea to students in Qatar University during World Mental Health Day, the reactions were nothing less than amazing. Everyone was excited about the idea and said that it would greatly benefit them and the community as a whole.”
Source: Qatar University