Koya University Medical Students Conduct Awareness Seminars in Local High Schools

Third-year medical students from Koya University, supervised by Dr. Delawar Hamad—a faculty member and member of the Higher Committee for Strategic Plan Implementation—conducted a series of scientific seminars for high schools under the Koya Directorate of Education on February 8 and 10, 2026. This initiative aligns with the university's strategic objectives under the "Community Outreach" pillar of the Strategic Plan (2023-2027), aiming to serve the local community and provide academic support to educational institutions.

The seminars, titled "The Overuse of Antibiotics and Its Negative Consequences," were delivered by medical students Ahmed Aswad, Adam Aso, Diyar Sergord, and Mohammed Awat. The sessions targeted eight high schools, including Chro, Koya, Baidagh, Zalli, and Drawsh for girls, as well as Hivyar, Koya, and Sami Oudali for boys. This scientific outreach aimed to educate students on the dangers of self-medication and to translate academic medical knowledge into accessible awareness messages that promote public health.

During the sessions, the students provided simplified scientific explanations of antibiotic resistance, illustrating how using these medications without professional medical advice leads to drug resistance, thereby hindering recovery and complicating the treatment of infections. The students emphasized the importance of individual health awareness, affirming that their role as medical students at Koya University extends beyond the classroom to leading health education campaigns and correcting harmful drug-use behaviors within the community.

This initiative is a practical embodiment of the third pillar of the Koya University Strategic Plan, which is entirely dedicated to "Community Outreach." The first objective of this pillar, titled "Emphasizing Meaningful Participation in the Community," seeks to build sustainable bridges of communication between the university and secondary schools. Through these organized field visits, faculty and students provide essential scientific and intellectual support, reinforcing Koya University's position as an integrated center for knowledge and service that serves the region and its scientific aspirations.