Qatar- QU highlights immunisation issues

Date

5/2/2016 9:52:16 PM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A visitor at the awareness booth set up within Qatar University.

DOHA: Qatar University (QU) held a five-day event aimed at increasing public awareness on issues myths and challenges related to immunisation.

Thirty-seven students from QU Health cluster colleges of Health Sciences (CHS) Medicine (CMED) and Pharmacy (CPH) participated in an immunisation awareness campaign organized by the Health cluster in connection with International Immunisation Week.

The Ministry of Public Health and Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) supported the event.

Twenty-eight public health students from QU contributed to an awareness booth that was set up in the women’s Food Court to brief students and visitors on immunisation in Qatar conduct a quiz and present other interactive activities.

Qatar children’s immunisation schedule was also distributed at the booth.

The booth also featured a flu shot campaign for the provision of flu vaccines. Free flu vaccination shots were offered to around 150 students by a team of practitioners from Qatar Ministry of Public Health.

Sali Mohsen Hafether a disaster response coordinator at QRC’s relief and international development office delivered on Thursday a lecture “Insights on the Inside-Syria Immunisation Campaign” in which she highlighted the immunisation challenges in conflict areas.

In the spirit of contributing knowledge and expertise towards public awareness QU Health cluster members also joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) social media campaign titled “Close the Immunisation Gap” using the hashtag #vaccineswork and made use of other WHO awareness material including web banners posters and others.

To contribute to community awareness through media outlets faculty members Dr Sana Abudahab Prof Ala-edin El Mustafa and Dr Hadi Yassine delivered radio interviews throughout the week on Qatar Radio.

They addressed a wide range of topics such as the link between autism and measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine vaccinations and specific types of cancers the importance of adult immunisations and seasonal flu and epidemic vaccines respectively.

QU Vice-President for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft said “In addition to its value in community service and public awareness the campaign presents a learning opportunity for our students to bear an understanding of their future roles in educating the public on important public health issues.

“These service learning activities complement their class work in no small measure and showcase the collaborative aspect of inter-professional medical education reflected in the cluster.

“The collaboration in delivering this campaign with relevant civil society and government organisations is also very important to us.”

The Peninsula

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