ShareKUWAIT: In a historic achievement for Kuwait University, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated the Sabah Al-Salem University City as a “Healthy City,” making it the first university in Kuwait to receive this recognition. This milestone was celebrated during a special ceremony in which certificates of accreditation were also presented to Dasmah and Al-Oyoun designating them as healthy cities.
The event, held at the Dana Hall on the Sabah Al-Salem university campus, was attended by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Nader Al-Jallal, Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi, WHO Regional Director Assad Hafeez, and Acting President of Kuwait University Osama Al-Saeed.
In his remarks, Minister Al-Awadhi expressed his pride that Kuwait University had become the first university in the country to earn the “Healthy City” designation locally. He also highlighted that, with the addition of Dasmah and Al-Oyoun, Kuwait now has seven officially recognized healthy cities, out of 18 registered in the WHO’s Regional Healthy Cities Network.
“We aim to expand the number of healthy cities in Kuwait to ten by the end of this year, with Qortuba, Al-Daiya, and Al-Shaab expected to pass WHO’s initial evaluation,” he said. Awadhi praised the collaborative efforts of the university, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders, emphasizing how this achievement reflects dedication to enhancing public health and community engagement.
Minister Al-Awadhi explained that the “Healthy Cities” initiative, launched by the WHO in 1986, aims to improve community health through partnerships between governments and civil society. The program focuses on fostering collaborations that lead to better health outcomes and quality of life.
WHO Regional Director Assad Hafeez also congratulated the university on its accreditation, noting that the Sabah Al-Salem campus’ commitment to creating a healthy and thriving community serves as an exemplary model. “Your dedication to health and well-being is a clear testament to your belief in enhancing the health and prosperity of your community,” he said. Hafeez further emphasized that during the WHO’s evaluation of the university campus, it was evident that health was integrated into the university’s daily operations. This integration not only enhances the success of the institution but also improves the health of students, staff, and workers, while promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
The WHO official explained that the “Healthy University” concept is based on a comprehensive approach to health, with a focus on creating an educational environment and organizational culture that promotes health, well-being, and sustainability. He said the Healthy Cities Department at the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, introduced the concept of healthy universities for the first time at Sabah Al-Salem University City. Since then, several other initiatives have been implemented in the region and launched based on the standards of the Healthy Cities Program.
Acting President of Kuwait University, Al-Saeed, explained that the university has worked to strengthen the concept of community partnerships, which has resulted in the global accreditation of the Sabah Al-Salem University campus as an integrated educational and health system. He noted that the campus serves approximately 50,000 students and university staff daily from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and experiences smooth traffic with around 50,000 cars.
He added that the university campus earned 110 points in the WHO’s assessment, meeting all necessary criteria for the “Healthy City” designation. Minister Al-Jallal described the WHO’s accreditation as a “historic achievement” for Kuwait University. He commended the collaborative efforts of various sectors in the country, noting that this recognition highlights Kuwait University’s role in integrating health into its academic and organizational structures. — KUNA
