In May and June 2023, the College of Pharmacy Students at Gulf Medical University enthusiastically joined the sixth global May Measurement Month campaign (MMM23). This campaign spanned across nearly 90 countries worldwide, including the UAE. MMM is the largest worldwide public blood pressure screening and awareness project that has started since the year 2017. The MMM23 campaign was led by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), with support from Servier and Life Pharmacy.
To prepare for their roles, the participating students underwent a comprehensive virtual training session. This enlightening session was to inform participants how to fill the MMM23 questionnaire and how to carry out precise blood pressure measurements, and calculate body mass index (BMI).
A group of students from the College of Pharmacy: Shahad Elmenshawy, Salamah Alhammadi, Syeda Fatima, Rand Rabadi, Soam Nadeem, Afra Abdul Hameed, Kripa Mathew, Fathima Sheik, Ghina Baghdadi, and Sarah Elkhawaga measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings on three separate occasions, in addition to calculating BMI, for a total of 50 adult volunteers.
The campaign was supervised by: Prof. Shatha Al Sharbatti, HOD, Community Medicine at the College of Medicine, and Associate Professor Muhammed Abdullatif, Director of the Student Happiness Center at the College of Pharmacy.
The MMM23 campaign offered a great opportunity for pharmacy students to actively engage with the community and advocate for the significance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.
The College of Pharmacy’s participation in the May Measurement Month campaign served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that education and awareness can bring to communities, highlighting the pivotal role that future pharmacists can play in promoting healthier lives for all.