A S U

Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of Ain Shams University for Community Service and Environmental Development, inaugurated the “Your Health Matters” campaign at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, as part of the University’s participation in the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” initiative. The campaign was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa, University President, and in cooperation with the National Council for Women and the University’s Women’s Support and Anti-Violence Unit.

The event was attended by Prof. Yomna Safwat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Acting Dean of the Faculty; Prof. Hala Sayed Metwally, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs; and Prof. Hend El-Helaly, Head of the Women’s Support and Anti-Violence Unit, along with a distinguished group of experts and specialists, including Prof. Wageda Anwar, Professor of Public Health and member of the Health and Population Committee at the National Council for Women; Prof. Dina Shokry, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Cairo University; Dr. Zeinab El-Naggar, Clinical Pathology Consultant; and Dr. Hanaa Mostafa Hussein, former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Population.

In her speech, Prof. Ghada Farouk emphasized that the family forms the foundation for building a stable personality capable of coping with life pressures, stressing the importance of providing psychological and social support to children to enhance quality of life and strengthen society’s ability to face various challenges.

Prof. Yomna Safwat highlighted that organizing the “Your Health Matters” event within the framework of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign reflects the Faculty of Al-Alsun’s commitment to raising community awareness and supporting women’s issues. She noted that the event coincides with her role as Acting Dean, which provides a strong impetus for enhancing the faculty’s community engagement. She added that the faculty continues to collaborate with various units and authorities to instill a culture of zero tolerance for any violent or discriminatory practices, emphasizing that supporting women is fundamental to building a conscious and cohesive society.

Prof. Hend El-Helaly explained that Ain Shams University has a comprehensive system for combating all forms of violence, including clear mechanisms for psychological, social, and legal support, noting that the University’s Women’s Support Unit is the first of its kind in Egyptian universities.

The participating experts shared diverse insights on health and societal challenges related to women’s issues. Prof. Wageda Anwar highlighted the importance of women’s health as a foundation for building a strong society, while Prof. Dina Shokry discussed the rise in violence rates in recent years, as well as the risks of female genital mutilation and child marriage. Dr. Zeinab El-Naggar provided guidance on health and reproductive awareness, and Dr. Hanaa Mostafa Hussein praised governmental efforts to reduce negative media influences and their impact on social stability.

As part of the day’s activities, the Faculty of Nursing organized a medical caravan to serve participants and residents, under the supervision of Prof. Sahar Nasr, Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Hayam Tantawy, Vice Dean for Environmental Affairs, with participation from faculty members and teaching assistants from the Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing Department. The caravan provided services including blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, health and reproductive awareness, early breast disease screening, and first aid, aiming to raise health awareness and promote preventive practices and early diagnosis within the university community.

The event concluded with several interventions emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions, health authorities, and community organizations to combat violence against women, and to intensify efforts to promote a culture of support and protection, ensuring a safe and empowering environment for women and girls at all stages.