SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING

3.3.2 Does your university as a body deliver outreach programmes and projects in the local community (which can include student volunteering programmes) to improve or promote health & wellbeing including hygiene, nutrition, family planning, sports, exercise, aging well, and other health and wellbeing related topics?

Public health campaign

The Social Responsibility Unit at Al-Maarifa University, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Health Affairs in the Riyadh Region, organized a health campaign under the title “Public Health” during the period 01/17/19/2019, which was held at the Sahara Mall [1]. The campaign highlighted chronic diseases (diabetes, blood pressure, osteoporosis, kidney failure, hepatitis, and obesity).

Among the objectives of the campaign is to introduce the community to the concept of these diseases and the percentage of people infected with them in the Kingdom by informing them of medical models, taking measurements of weight, height, diabetes and blood pressure, and distributing awareness-raising medical brochures. The campaign has been widely accepted by segments of society, and this participation comes in fulfillment of the message. The university emphasized the importance of health education and community participation, and the campaign was attended by a number of market visitors.

Hayat programme: First-aid & community health workshops (Nursing Dept.)

Under the Hayat (Life) social responsibility programme, the Nursing Department runs applied workshops for local school students teaching basics of first aid, injury prevention and emergency response. These sessions build community resilience by equipping young people with life-saving skills and safe-practice behaviours.

Our Nursing Department conducts the ‘Hayat’ community workshops delivering first-aid, prevention and health-education sessions for local schools and community groups — strengthening local health literacy and basic life-saving skills [2].

My Blood is Green

To commemorate Saudi National Day, Al Maarefa University launched the ‘My Blood is Green’ campaign mobilizing staff, students and community members to donate blood. The event strengthens local blood-supply resilience and fosters civic solidarity while integrating volunteerism and public health service.

Under the slogan “Nationalism is Life ... We Give Life,” and as part of its celebrations for Saudi National Day, Almaarefa University organized the “My Blood is Green” blood donation campaign. The initiative aims to promote values of generosity and national solidarity among university staff and the local community. This campaign reflects the university's commitment to its social and humanitarian role. Through this event, Almaarefa University seeks to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation as a means of saving lives and enhancing the spirit of patriotism, all while aligning with the slogan “We Dream and Achieve” [3].

Blood-donation campaign

Al Maarefa University organized a campus blood-donation campaign in cooperation with King Khalid University Hospital. The event drew strong participation from employees, faculty and students, reflecting the university’s role in mobilizing community health resources and modeling civic engagement.

In confirmation of the principle of solidarity and cooperation called for by our true religion and to consolidate the volunteer work pursued by knowledge colleges in the hearts of its students and employees, including professors and administrators, the Student Affairs Administration, in cooperation with King Khalid University Hospital, organized a blood donation campaign in the colleges’ lobby on 11-14-15-2017 AD [4].

The event witnessed a remarkable turnout by college employees, led by His Excellency the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Zaid bin Muhammad Al-Zamil, who in turn expressed the importance of these events in serving the community and fulfilling the social responsibility of every citizen and resident.

Know your numbers Campaign

The volunteer team (student committee in the College of Medicine) in Al Maarefa Univeristy on the occasion of #اليوم_العالمي_لضغط_الدم with the slogan “Know your numbers”, carrying out a volunteer campaign to educate the community about the significance of total blood pressure numbers; Measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings [5].

Your Health is Important to Us

In cooperation with the Ministry of Justice (Labor Court), Al Maarefa University delivered the ‘Your Health is Important to Us’ campaign addressing chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, kidney disease, hepatitis). The outreach included screenings and health education for court employees and visitors.

The Community Responsibility Unit at Al-Maarifa University, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Health Affairs in the Riyadh Region, organized a health campaign entitled “Health for All”, on Sunday, 04/07/2019 AD, held at the Ministry of Transport [6]. This campaign was opened by His Excellency Mr. Abdul Hadi Al-Mansouri, Assistant Minister of Transport, and a team began... Working to introduce the university and its academic programs and the extent of its great interest in developing its mission to serve society, and the team’s ambition to implement its lofty mission. The campaign shed light on chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, osteoporosis, prevention of smoking and obesity, and then began taking diabetes and blood pressure measurements and reassured about one’s health. The employees and introduced them to the concept of these diseases and the percentage of people infected with them in the Kingdom, and distributed gifts and some awareness brochures to them. They thanked the university and the students for this kind gesture and look forward to its continuation.

The university's participation came out of its belief in the importance of activating community participation and its interest in raising the level of health awareness to the highest levels and in all fields.

Kidney Health Awareness

In order to implement the third goal (good health and well-being) of #أهداف_التنمية_المستدامة , the Al Maarefa Univeristy voluntary health team (College of Medicine) is implementing a community campaign to educate the public on how to maintain kidney health, and the mechanism of avoiding fluid deficiency during the fasting period [7].

World Obesity Day outreach

Al Maarefa University organized events for World Obesity Day with sessions on causes and complications of obesity, healthy diet guidance, physical activity promotion and free measurements (weight/height/ideal weight). Students distributed educational brochures and engaged the public in behaviour-change messages.

The Student Affairs Department at Sahara Mall, in cooperation with the Student Club for Health Education in Colleges, coinciding with World Obesity Day, which falls on 10/11/2017, organized an educational awareness event about obesity and its dangers [8].

The event included introductory sections about the harms of obesity, its causes and complications, and the importance of healthy food and physical activity. It also included a section for measuring weight and knowing the ideal weight. The students also distributed introductory brochures about obesity, its harms, and how to prevent it.

The event aims to raise awareness among all members of society about the seriousness of this disease and its association with many chronic diseases and pathological disorders, and to combine all efforts from the health and educational sectors to reduce the high rate of this phenomenon through awareness, education, and conducting extensive studies to determine the most important causes of obesity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge students visit a nursing home

Students from Al Maarefa University visited a nursing home to interact with residents, inquire about their health and conditions, and share a communal breakfast — a volunteer outreach activity promoting wellbeing, social support and attention to older people’s needs.

As part of the Colleges of Social and Humanitarian Knowledge’s purposeful initiatives through which they seek to support all segments of society regardless of their ages, the Student Affairs Administration organized last Wednesday, 10/11/2017, a loving visit to the social care home for the elderly affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, as part of its pioneering program for social responsibility [9].

The program of this visit included exchanging friendly conversations between the college students and the residents of the home and inquiring about their health and conditions. After that, breakfast prepared by the college students was eaten amid feelings full of love and affection.

For his part, Mr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Ajlan, Director of the Social Welfare House, expressed his deep thanks to the knowledge colleges for this generous humanitarian gesture, wishing the students success, payment, and reward from God.

Visit to Social Welfare Home for Elderly Women

Our students visited the Social Welfare Home for Elderly Women, interacted with residents, checked on health conditions, and shared a communal meal — a volunteer outreach activity that promotes social wellbeing and attention to older people’s needs.

The elderly women in society are considered one of the most important groups in need of care and compassion. From this standpoint, the female students of Al-Ma’rifa University, represented by the Community Service Unit, on the evening of Saturday, Ramadan 20, 1440 AH, corresponding to May 25, 2019 AD, held a friendly visit and inspection of the social care home for elderly women to create a family atmosphere of joy. Happiness is in the month of Ramadan, the month characterized by love, giving, and goodness, which brings renewed bonding, compassion, and brotherhood among members of the Islamic community, and the provision of symbolic gifts to elderly women [10].

The visit comes within the framework of the university’s role and social responsibility, and the importance of caring for this community group from all segments and sensing the spiritual meanings and faith atmosphere that characterize the blessed month of Ramadan. Ms. Nouf Al-Subhi, Public Relations Officer, also thanked and appreciated Al-Ma’rifa University and its students for their efforts.

Awareness Program for the Elderly

In order to activate the university’s social responsibility plan, the volunteer team (nursing department) in Al Maarefa Univeristy provides a participatory awareness program for the elderly, in cooperation with the nursing team at the Social Welfare Home for the Elderly in Riyadh [11].

Early Breast Cancer Screening

Al Maarefa University invited the public to early breast-cancer screening activities and awareness events, emphasizing screening as part of a health culture and encouraging community members to adopt screening to improve early detection and outcomes.

Every early screening for disease #breast_cancer It is a precious opportunity to live a new life, through which we can ensure a bright future and a prosperous present. Almaarefa University Invites everyone to make #early_Screening. An integral part of our health culture, striving towards a vibrant and sustainable society [12].

Raising awareness about the importance of early screening contributes to reducing infection and death rates, opening new horizons towards a healthy and safe future. Make early screening a part of your life, as your health is the cornerstone on which we build our societies and populate our countries.

LIFE Initiative

The LIFE Initiative, led by AlMaarefa University’s Social Responsibility Unit, documents a structured outreach programme offering CPR training, airway management workshops and emergency preparedness education to students and community beneficiaries. The programme emphasizes reducing preventable deaths and improving immediate response capacity in local settings [13].

Research Day

Al Maarefa’s Research Day compilation includes student/faculty studies on obesity prevalence among students, anxiety and quality of life, and self-medication practices — these findings include recommendations to implement educational programmes on healthy lifestyles and mental-health support, forming a research-to-outreach pipeline for community health promotion [14].

Planting 5,000 trees in royal reserves (environmental volunteering)

In cooperation with our partners, Almaarefa University has planted 5,000 new trees in the royal reserves as part of our commitment to achieving the goals of @Gi_Saudi [15].

Our objectives reflect our values and go beyond mere aspirations. #DroughtAndDesertificationDay@AlMaarefa pic.twitter.com/eHRJVRGzaM

References