The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) concluded its “Back to School” Campaign under the slogan “Towards Promoting Students’ Overall Health” on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, which was managed by the School Health Department.

This year’s campaign targeted students of all ages, including students at kindergarten, primary, preparatory, and secondary schools, as well as their parents and all public-school employees.

A series of events were held in three health centers: Leabaib, Al Thumama, and Al Wajbah. Since its launch, the campaign has witnessed an unprecedented turnout by the local community, with more than 7,000 visitors per week.

Dr. Layla Al Dahneem, Senior Community Medicine Consultant and Manager of School Health Services and Program, said that guidance and awareness tips were provided during the campaign on the importance of maintaining mental and behavioral health. In addition to delivering awareness lectures related to mental, behavioral, and physical health through 324 school health nurses, working in 292 public schools across all regions of the State of Qatar.

The vital signs were taken, and blood sugar was tested for around 4,000 employees to assess their physical health, and more than 9,000 students participated in interactive competitions. Also, several educational and awareness videos were displayed on screens in all schools and health centers, and more than 4,000 brochures and coloring books were distributed to provide a safe school environment free of violence and bullying.

Dr. Al Dahneem added that the campaign’s scope was expanded to include posting educational materials through various social media platforms, as well as a live streaming on PHCC social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. This is in addition to radio and television interviews, highlighting the objectives of this campaign and the importance of participating in it.

Indeed, parents were engaged by sending awareness messages on periodic basis by school administrators. One of Nawaf Yousef Al Mohamed’s parents, a student at one of the public schools, stressed on the importance of continuing to spread health awareness among students by PHCC, stating that “we hope that such efforts will continue as they leave a positive impact on the entire school health environment.”

For his part, Mr. Nasser Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Principle of Hamza Bin Abdul Muttalib Preparatory Independent School for Boys, said: “We express our thanks and appreciation to PHCC, School Health Department, school nurses, and the teaching and administrative staff for their efforts to create a healthy and safe school environment for all,” stressing on the key role played by families in the educational process, which is complementary to that of the school’s.

The campaign was successful because of the combined internal PHCC efforts, including all regional directors of health centers, Corporate Communications Department, Communicable Diseases and Infection Prevention Department, Information Technology Department, Sustainable Health and Wellness Department, as well as external efforts from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) and the Behavioral Healthcare Center.