Faculty of Dentistry Collaboration With WHO
On November 28th, 2022, Dr. Duran Kala, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Tishk International University, and Dr. Lezan Dawood, the Polyclinic Director, welcomed a delegation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that visited TIU. The WHO delegation members included: Dr. Firas Al Khafaji, the officer responsible for the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI), Dr. Alyaa Mohammed, the officer responsible for the Health Promotion Program, and Dr. Yade Hadi, the Area Coordinator of Erbil and Kirkuk Programs.
The delegation discussed collaboration between WHO and Tishk International University to establish a project titled: Launch a New Initiative to scale up routine immunisation and C-19 vaccination through engaging university students in medical, dental, and pharmacy schools in Baghdad, Basra, and Erbil to mobilise the community.
The project will provide an opportunity for:
- To strengthen universal health coverage and indicate the importance of collaboration between WHO and educational institutions to promote health among communities.
- Shed light on our youth/students’ network in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil and their role in supporting MoH and WHO efforts in response to scaling up the routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination.
- Raising awareness of the impact of routine immunisation and C-19 vaccination concerns within the community.
- Measuring the level of awareness within the target area on volunteerism sustainability to develop future programming.
- In addition, the event will create an opportunity to recognise passionate youth and qualified students in the assigned locations, strengthening the network through establishing a relationship with partners and stakeholder organisations.
Proposed Activities
- Launch a new call for youth/medical students to volunteer/engage with the MoH and WHO network to promote immunisations.
- Each governorate will have two locations for the activity: private and public universities, with the participation of 200 students from Baghdad (100 private and 100 public), 200 from Basra (100 private and 100 public), and 200 from Erbil (100 private and 100 public).
- Open the registration for a limited period through a link.
- Call for young people to engage in it.
- Provide one-day training in the university hall or auditorium on RCCE and the importance of mobilising the community to promote health and strengthen the health systems. Explain the importance of routine immunisation in building solid and healthy communities and strengthening the UHC.
- Provide students with health messages to disseminate on social media and in their communities.
- Follow up with students on a weekly basis until the end of February.
- Students will tag WHO and MoH social media platforms. The top twenty highest engaged students will be invited to a ceremony and provided with an appreciation letter and recognition of support.
