The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) yesterday (Tuesday) played host to the annual Health Awareness Awards ceremony, under the patronage of His Excellency, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC), Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi.
Organised by RCSI Bahrains Community Engagement department, in partnership with the ministry of Education, the Health Awareness Awards are based around an art competition for local secondary schools.
The entrants were tasked with creating a piece of art reflecting a health theme affecting local communities, with chosen subjects including obesity, diabetes, smoking, road safety and genetic illnesses. The main aim of the event is to generate awareness among high school students of such prevalent health issues.
This years competition attracted more than 70 entries from some 25 government schools around the country, with the top three selected by a judging panel made up of representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and RCSI Bahrain.
Hawraa Ali Hasan Salman from Ghazi Al Qussaibi Secondary Girls School was awarded first prize; Abdul Aziz Ahmed Al Shaikh from Alhidaya Alkalifia Secondary Boys School placed second and Mazen Najeeb Gharabi from Ahmed Al Omran Secondary Boys School won third.
The prizes were presented by to his Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi.
Speaking on the occasion, RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom paid tribute to the Ministry of Education and the HEC for supporting the initiative.
He acknowledged the policy of the Ministry of Education and the HEC in building a significant partnership between all higher education institutions in Bahrain and extended his gratitude and thanks to his Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr Majid Bin Ali Al-Naimi for acting as a patron and giving up his time.
This is a true example of the support his Excellency is providing for private universities and to RCSI Bahrain on this initiative of building the links between government schools and universities, he added.
RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RSCI, which was established in Ireland in 1784. Like its counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.
Community Engagement is one of the three strategic pillars of RCSI Bahrain - along with Research and Teaching and Learning - and the university has a specific team dedicated to organising such events both in Bahrain and overseas.