The Health Promotion Department, HPD, at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah underlined the importance of continuing work and achieving outstanding outcomes in terms of delivering the awareness health messages to community members and coming up with innovative initiatives.

The remarks were made during the online meeting headed by Her Excellency Iman Rashid Saif, Director of the Health Promotion Department, in the presence of heads of departments and health educators.

The meeting comes as part of the remote working system implemented by the department in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, and as a response to the government measures to battle the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

The meeting discussed expanding the HPD’s awareness campaigns as part of its efforts to counter the spread of COVID-19 by adopting several measures in line with the programs and plans of the government to address the global pandemic in order to maintain the safety of citizens and residents.

Harnessing all the potential

Iman Rashid Saif commended the efforts made by the HPD staff since the emergence of COVID-19 and the national role they play through the rapid response with the awareness programs and campaigns which targeted all society segments, pursuant to the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi.

“We’ve leveraged all of our digital potential and smart platforms to publish our awareness messages, explaining that the Department and other health-supporting associations have published on their social media platforms more than 187 awareness posts and filmed over 36 videos in March. Also, we have published some educational articles in various media outlets and awareness-raising segments on the radio by our health educators, in addition to hosting doctors and specialists through the “Instagram Live” feature to enhance health awareness and answer public inquiries.”

Intensifying our awareness campaigns

The HPD Director recommended to continue the work and intensify the awareness campaigns and expand their scope in order to reach the largest possible segment of society. This can be achieved by defining various health messages and programs suitable for all age groups and in different languages, as well as consolidating the concepts of sound health patterns such as personal hygiene.

She urged the community members to avoid fear and anxiety over COVID-19, ignore the rumors and the false information which affects the mental health in a negative way, focus on understating the nature of COVID-19 disease and how to deal with it, and to obtain information from the governmental sources and official health authorities in the country.

The participants also underlined the importance of building partnerships with different bodies to spread the awareness programs of the HPD via its smart platforms to reach the largest segment of individuals.