Launching of National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Within the framework of community responsibility, a scientific lecture entitled “Diseases Transmitted by Food and Climate Changes” was given by the College of Public Health and Health Informatics. The lecture, which was held on Sunday, 22/01/1438H, targeted family medicine doctors at the Directorate of Public Health, Jeddah Directorate of Health Affairs.

Dr. Ahmad Abdullah Muhammad Othman, Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Education and Promotion, tackled health problems that resulted from food transmitted diseases which targeted 1.8 million persons annually. Such problems are caused by microbe secreted or other chemical venoms. Dr. Othman added that there were a wide variety of microbes that caused such diseases like Salmonella, Campylobacter in addition to viruses that caused symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache and fever.  He also noted that the reasons for such diseases were neglecting safety procedures while dealing with foods, which could be obvious in storing, cooking at the wrong heat, personal uncleanliness of food workers and cross contamination.

Dr. Othman recommended abidance by World Health Organization instructions which include cooking and storing foods well, keeping personal cleanliness, and getting food from safe sources. He also clarified that the global climatic effects overshadowed general health through global warming, drought, poisonous gas fumes, and destructive floods.

Dr. Waheeb Bin Dakhilullah Muhammad Al-Harbi, Dean of the College, pointed out that the College participated in such event out of its care for putting the University’s objectives into action. The college also recognized the significance of cooperation with other health institutions through awareness and health promotion under the umbrella of the great support given to the College’s various activities and programmes by HE UQU President Dr. Bakri Bin Maatouq Assas.