العربية 
Sana’a – As part of the University’s commitment to community service, the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology (UST), organized the Annual Community Engagement Event for fourth-level students on September 24, 2024.
The event, held under the patronage of Prof. Al-Qasim Mohammed Abbas, President of the University, took place at the Female Students’ Branch. During the event, Prof. Noaman Al-Najjar, Vice President of the University, emphasized the importance of this annual initiative, which reflects the Department’s and students’ role in promoting community awareness through field visits to various institutions across the Capital Secretariat. He noted that community service is one of the core functions of universities alongside education and scientific research, a mission that UST actively fulfills.
Prof. Al-Najjar praised the efforts of the Faculty of Medicine, the Department, and the students in organizing this significant event, which receives continuous support from the University leadership due to its role in promoting health awareness and educating the community on the importance of healthy and balanced nutrition. He stressed that proper nutrition is a cornerstone of individual and public health and called for the widespread dissemination of the event’s outcomes.
For his part, Dr. Abdullah Al-Makhlafi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, expressed his pride in this annual activity, which represents the culmination of the efforts of fourth-level students in the program. He highlighted that UST was the first university in Yemen to establish the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Program, which has since become a model and reference for many private universities. He also noted that the University is celebrating the graduation of the program’s tenth cohort and was the first Yemeni university to launch a master’s program in this specialty.
Dr. Al-Makhlafi reflected on the early stages of establishing the program, the challenges encountered, and the efforts made to overcome them. He extended his gratitude to all academic staff members who contributed to the foundation and development of the program, whether they continue to serve at the University or have moved on to other institutions.
He also encouraged graduates to pursue further academic and professional development by enrolling in the University’s master’s program and taking advantage of the educational opportunities available.
Meanwhile, Dr. Doaa Mutahhar, Head of the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, welcomed the attendees and expressed appreciation for the University leadership’s continued support of both the program and the annual event. She also commended the efforts of the fourth-level students and Dr. Alya Al-Qasimi, supervisor of the activity, for their excellent organization and preparation.
The event featured awareness presentations and a showcase of the results of field visits conducted by fourth-level students to schools, universities, hospitals, social care homes, institutes, healthcare facilities, and other institutions. These outreach activities included the provision of nutritional consultations, free weight assessments, and the distribution of educational brochures on various health and nutrition topics.
Following the ceremony, Prof. Noaman Al-Najjar, accompanied by Dr. Abdullah Al-Makhlafi, Dr. Susan Al-Harawi, Dean of the Female Students’ Branch, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sabl, Vice Dean for Health Sciences, and the Head of the Department, inaugurated the Nutrition Exhibition. The exhibition featured awareness corners, nutritional guides highlighting healthy foods for different age groups, equipment for measuring weight and body fat percentage, and personalized nutritional consultations for visitors.
The event concluded with the recognition of the top-achieving fourth-level students from the tenth cohort, as well as those who contributed to organizing this year’s community engagement activity.
