Health Education Department launches its sixth conference

The Health Education Department of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs announced today that it will launch its sixth conference, dubbed “My Health 2016”. The event, which will be held between 15-16 November, is under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
The two-day conference will be held at Al-Razi Hall in the Complex of Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Sharjah.
Meanwhile, according to Iman Rashid Saif, Director of the Health Education Department, the conference aims to raise cultural awareness among parents over up-to-date health information and practices for children. It also works to create a supportive environment that will bringtogether parents and consultants to discuss children’s concerns in a supportive atmosphere.
During a press conference held at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah on Monday, Saif added that the slogan selected for the event, comes as part of efforts to address the child community, who are the future of society.
She also noted that in line with the UAE “2021 Vision”, the conference aims to spread awareness on how to lead a healthy life style, as well reducing diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, ultimately making the UAE one of the best countries in the world in regards to quality health care.
The sixth conference, according toSaif, will bring together a number of local and international specialists and doctors from various sectors, along with parents, to discuss children's health and how to deal with their illness. 
Director of the Health Education Department also added that children represent hope and the future of all societies. Therefore, according toSaif, the conference will discuss ways on creating a decent life-style for children, as well as methods in providing psychological assistance. It will tackle many issues such as: healthy eating habits, as well as vaccination schemes for children, and ways to reduce child death rate.
For her part, Iman Turki, Health Education Officer at the Health Education Department, presented an insight on the objectives of the conference and its achievements between 2010 and 2014, which according toTurki, was able to spread health awareness across Sharjah, reaching a large segment of the community, most notably family members.
Turki also added that the health awareness conference, launched by the Department since 2011, has thus far attracted more than 4,500 members of the community, as well as eighty international and local specialists, working in different scientific and medical sectors.
Dr. Salah Taher Al Haj, Dr. Salah Taher AL Haj . Vice Chancellor for community Affairs at UoS, highlited the fruitful cooperation between the University, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and the Department of Health Education. He stressed that the University is always encouraging the organization of conferences and seminars related to health affairs and community service, and added that the university has extended its role to reach various segments of the society through mobile clinics that roam the emirate.
Moreover, Dr. Koutaiba Hamid –Director, Faculty of Medicine - University of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Conference stressed that the conference will focus on child and adolescent health, and will educate parents, teachers, and care     takers, on several health social and psychological issues. 
For his part, Abdullah Al-Dah – Director of Al-Shaab Village -Gold sponsor of the conference- highlighted the importance of the role of the family, describing it as the cornerstone of society, as he stressed that social awareness should reach each house. He noted that Al-Shaab Villageis keen to participate dynamically in all activities that support family, given that family support is an essential step towards a safe and healthy society.
Maisoun AL-Hosani, Director of Media Department at the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority -Gold sponsor of the conference-said that the conference aims to raise awareness and shed light on the latest medical research in many fields, which in turn will result in the prevention of many contemporary diseases