On September 23, 2026, the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University, through the UAE Pharmacy Students Federation (UPSF–GMU), organized an influenza awareness campaign at Thumbay University Hospital in Ajman, UAE, in collaboration with the hospital. The initiative brought together students from BPharm, PharmD Post-Bachelor (PharmD PB), Diploma of Pharmacy Technician (DPT), Master of Clinical Pharmacy (MCP), and Master of Drug Discovery (MDD) programs to engage with the hospital community and promote awareness of influenza prevention and responsible medication use.
Throughout the event, student volunteers interacted with participants and shared key information about influenza symptoms, prevention strategies, vaccination, and appropriate self-care. The activity provided students with an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a real-world healthcare setting while strengthening their communication, health-promotion, and community engagement skills. To encourage active patients and visitors’ participation, the volunteers conducted interactive activities, including a “Spin the Wheel” game and a symptom-matching activity. Participants matched common influenza symptoms with appropriate over-the-counter recommendations, allowing them to reinforce their understanding of symptom recognition and responsible medication use in an engaging and accessible manner.
The event highlighted the importance of community engagement and intra-professional collaboration in promoting public health. The participation of students from diverse pharmacy programs fostered a collaborative learning environment, demonstrating how students from different academic programs can contribute collectively to health education initiatives. The initiative further strengthened the engagement between the College of Pharmacy and Thumbay University Hospital, providing a valuable platform for students to interact with the hospital community while contributing to public health awareness.
These community outreach activities underscore the College of Pharmacy’s strong commitment to supporting national health goals and demonstrate the crucial function of future pharmacists in public health education and advocacy.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
