JEDDAH — The role health plays in the lives of the Kingdom's residents has evolved and changed over time. No longer viewed as simply the absence of disease, health has rather become a state in which optimal physical, mental, and social well-being is achieved. The commonly-held belief that it is up to the doctor to recommend a treatment that will result in good health is also changing and people are realizing that it is up to them to be more responsible, hence taking charge of their health by eating well, exercising and living a healthy lifestyle. To empower society to actively adopt preventive measures that have been proven to ward off diseases, the Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah launched a number of awareness campaigns in shopping malls on the Corniche and in a number of public places. The vast majority of the volunteers who manned these educational health campaigns were young men and women students. Teeming with energy and fervor, the youth showed exceptional qualities in delivering the message to society on the importance of prevention, during the diabetes awareness campaigns and the “Walk Your Heart” campaign at the Red Sea Mall. Cooperation between the private sector and the Ministry of Health was key during these events, but the young volunteers proved to be just as vital. High school student from Dar Al Fikr School, Yousef Ehab Lengawi, said he was proud to volunteer in the health campaigns and to play a role in raising society's awareness about certain health issues. “I am happy to participate in these events and to help educate my own family and society about certain health concerns in the Kingdom. “Not only am I serving my community, but by volunteering in such events I am the one who benefits most because I learn a lot about health, communication and organizational skills, and the satisfaction that comes with hard work. “My friends and I have found this venue to be the best alternative to other activities that just waste our time,” said Lengawi. Lengawi added: “We have also attended training courses on the health risks associated with smoking and we attended workshops that prepared us to lead anti-smoking campaigns. “We are ambitious to start awareness campaigns on the ills of smoking and we will target schools, malls, and other places where families tend to go.” Muhammad Sultan Shawli, another active student, said that the Saudi society is in grave need for more health awareness campaigns to help people realize that prevention is better than cure. There is a widespread lack of understanding among our society, Shawli said, on how to decrease the risks of many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and others. During Shawli's involvement in several health educational events in Jeddah, he received outstanding positive feedback from the community. People of all ages and different walks of life were interested, asked questions, picked up brochures, and seemed thirsty for more knowledge. The volunteers proved to be so effective that Sami Badawood, director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, openly thanked the young men and women for their work. Fahd Al-Sebei, a volunteer at the event, said: “I encourage my friends and all young men and women to volunteer and to participate in programs that will increase awareness in our society on important health, environmental, and educational issues. “With teamwork and cooperation, we can make this city a better place to live for all Saudi citizens and foreign residents as well.”
