SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING

3.3.4 Does your university as a body provide students access to sexual and reproductive health-care services including information and education services?

Deanship / Student Affairs

The Deanship of Student Affairs oversees student support services; admission requirements include medical fitness (exam). The university operates student-support and health-unit structures that offer basic healthcare and referral channels — enabling information, counselling and onward clinical care for students’ health needs [1].

At Al Maarefa University, we provide a Sexual & Reproductive Health Care Service through our Health Unit dedicated to student well-being. This service includes education, counselling, and information on reproductive health. We ensure confidential support for students on sexual orientation via our Student Counselling Unit, staffed by professionals who listen and guide with respect and privacy. Additionally, we have implemented a strategy to provide free contraceptives and family planning guidance for students and the wider community.

For student mothers, we offer maternal health care, including regular check-ups during pregnancy and monitoring of potential complications — this service is provided free of charge for our student mothers. We also run awareness campaigns, for example on gynecological cancer, in collaboration with national health committees, to raise important reproductive health issues among students.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Courses

At Al Maarefa University our Nursing program includes dedicated modules on reproductive and child health (e.g., NURS 362 and related subjects). Through classroom instruction and supervised clinical placements students receive education and training in reproductive health topics, counselling techniques, maternal-child care and community education — enabling graduates to deliver SRH information and basic services in clinical and outreach settings [2].

Awareness session on Pre-marriage Examination

As part of its ongoing commitment to social responsibility and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health, AlMaarefa University organized an Awareness Course on Premarital Testing directed to its staff. The session was delivered by Dr. Ayad Al-Damiati, who provided comprehensive guidance on the importance of premarital examination as a key preventive measure to ensure family health and well-being.

This initiative highlights the university’s efforts to foster a well-informed community, equipping its members with essential knowledge related to reproductive health, early detection of hereditary conditions, and responsible family planning.

Awareness Course on Premarital Testing [3]

Presented by Dr. Ayad Al-Damiati of #AlMaarefa

For staff at @AlMaarefa

As part of our social responsibility

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 [4].

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.

Research Day

Research Day proceedings include student and faculty research addressing pregnancy-related issues (e.g., ectopic pregnancy case studies), women’s health and recommendations for educational programmes. This demonstrates academic attention to SRH topics and a pipeline from research to recommended outreach/education activities [5].

Genetic Diseases and the Importance of Early Examination for Marriage

As part of its efforts to enhance community health literacy and support informed decision-making related to sexual and reproductive well-being, AlMaarefa University hosted an educational session on Genetic Diseases and the Importance of Early Premarital Screening Tests. The session was delivered by Dr. Maysaloon Al-Badawi, Consulting Physician at Al-Yamamah Hospital, who provided valuable insights into hereditary conditions, risk factors, and the preventive role of early screening before marriage.

Genetic diseases and the importance of early premarital screening tests, presented by Dr. Maysaloon Al-Badawi (Consulting Physician at Al-Yamamah Hospital) [6].

Medical students at Int’l Conference on Women’s Diseases, Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine

Students and faculty from our College of Medicine participate in international conferences on obstetrics and reproductive medicine, presenting research and receiving awards — highlighting institutional engagement with the SRH professional community and continuing education in reproductive health topics.

Medical students at AlMaarefa University, including Shujun Al-Azzam, Jana Samir, Sarah Al-Amer, and Amjad Al-Anzi, under the supervision of Dr. Susan Mohammed, achieved third place in their participation in the Third Saudi International Conference on Women's Diseases, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine. The conference was held from November 26th to 27th, 2021, under the patronage of the Saudi Women’s Health Association, with the research titled “Awareness of Resident Females in Riyadh City regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine” [7].

Medical students at AlMaarefa University, including Shujun Al-Azzam, Jana Samir, Sarah Al-Amer, and Amjad Al-Anzi, under the supervision of Dr. Susan Mohammed, achieved third place in their participation in the Third Saudi International Conference on Women's Diseases, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine. The conference was held from November 26th to 27th, 2021, under the patronage of the Saudi Women’s Health Association, with the research titled “Awareness of Resident Females in Riyadh City regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine.”

The research aimed to measure the awareness level among females aged 18 and above regarding the HPV virus, its relationship with cervical cancer, transmission methods, and their knowledge of the availability of a safe vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. This is especially significant considering the vaccine's availability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The study distinguished itself by diagnosing the level of awareness about the HPV virus and the availability of a vaccine among females in Riyadh. The study revealed that only 30% were aware of the virus’s existence, while 15% knew about the vaccine’s availability among a sample of 1003 individuals from various age groups and educational backgrounds.

Dr. Saad Aseeri, the Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, concluded his statement by congratulating the winning students and expressing gratitude to their supervising doctor. He wished for continued success and excellence for the students and staff of AlMaarefa University.

On her part, Dr. Ibtisam Al-Madi, the advisor to the University President, emphasized the importance of research excellence at AlMaarefa University as a natural result of the excellence of its students and educational inputs. She reaffirmed that scientific research is a skill acquired by students through theoretical education and practical training to achieve the desired research quality.

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