Health Awareness and Community Empowerment

As part of the ongoing scientific activities and efforts to raise student awareness, second-year students from the Department of Media at Cihan University–Erbil delivered a scientific seminar titled “Electronic Addiction” for the students of Cihan International School–Erbil. The seminar was presented by Rzgar Salih, Yusuf Ahmad, Layar Aza, and Nergiz Amir on Thursday, October 23, 2025, under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Ali Jalal Jaafar.

The supervising lecturer and students were received by Mr. Mahmoud Imad Mohammed, the school principal, who emphasized the importance of conducting such activities to raise students’ awareness about the dangers of addiction to electronic devices.

The seminar began with Rzgar Salih, who provided a general overview of addiction and its types, presenting several examples from a medical perspective to the attending students. Following that, Yusuf Ahmad discussed the effects and dangers of addiction to electronic devices, emphasizing its negative impact on both mental and physical health.

Layar Aza then discussed how a person can identify and recognize addiction to electronic devices, to promote early treatment. The last presenter, Nergiz Amir, explained the methods and strategies that students can use to protect themselves from and overcome addiction to electronic devices.

Finally, Mr. Mahmoud Imad thanked the Department of Media and its students for conducting the seminar. He also expressed his hope that similar activities would continue to raise student awareness and help protect them from the dangers and harms of electronic device addiction.

As part of its academic initiatives, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, students from the Media Department at Cihan University–Erbil, under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Dlan Ismael Mawlood, organized an academic visit to Fenk Private School in Erbil.

At the beginning of the visit, the students and their supervising lecturer were warmly received by Mrs. Dalia Jasim Mohammed Al-Hamdani, Director of Fenk School. The director emphasized the importance of such activities and praised the Media Department at Cihan University–Erbil for its efforts in protecting students during this era of intensive digital connectivity.

The activity took the form of a seminar presented in Arabic by third-year Media Department students Mustafa Taghlub Ahmed, Yousif Ahmed Khudhair, and Tamar Amer Yahya.

In the first section, student Yousif Ahmed discussed the definition and various forms of media violence, providing a detailed analysis of how this phenomenon can cause psychological anxiety and social isolation among youth. In the second section, Mustafa Taghlub highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and explained how students can protect themselves from electronic attacks and create a safer online environment through simple and practical measures. Finally, student Tamar Amer discussed the available hotlines designed to support self-protection and help individuals seek assistance from relevant authorities when facing a cyberattack.

At the end of the event, Mrs. Dalia Jasim thanked the students for their efforts and encouraged the continuation of such initiatives, expressing her hope that these activities would contribute to preparing and developing a healthy generation capable of dealing intelligently with technological advancement.

On Sunday, October 19, 2025, a group of students from the Media Department at Cihan University–Erbil, under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Dlan Ismael Mawlood, conducted a scientific visit to Zagros Basic School in Erbil to carry out an awareness activity on the misuse of mobile phones and social media networks.

Upon arrival, the students and their supervising lecturer were warmly welcomed by Mr. Ihsan Othman Mawlood, the school director. Mr. Ihsan expressed his appreciation to Cihan University–Erbil for organizing the initiative and emphasized the importance of such educational activities, particularly as students’ dependence on digital devices continues to grow.

The activity took the form of a seminar presented by two fourth-year Media Department students, Dhuha Arjumant Jamal and Soleen Tayeb Abdulrahman. In the first part of the seminar, Dhuha Arjumant discussed the concept of media violence and its psychological and social impacts on youth and society as a whole. In the second part, Soleen Tayeb explored the principles of digital protection, highlighting the importance of awareness and strategies to prevent electronic attacks and encourage safe and responsible use of digital devices.

At the end of the visit, Mr. Ihsan Othman Mawlood thanked the students for their efforts and expressed his hope that such activities would continue in the future, contributing to the development.

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, fourth-year students from the Medical Laboratory Analysis Department conducted an awareness seminar at Shokh School in Erbil. The seminar, titled Smoking Vapes, was held in the school hall and organized by Medical Laboratory Analysis students under the supervision of A.L. Osama Shukri Abdullah. The students were warmly received by Ms. Pari Saber Hussein and the school’s management.

During the seminar, the students explained the importance of educating adolescents about the harmful effects of smoking vapes, their links to lung and liver cancer, and their impact on public health. They also discussed energy drinks, how these drinks turn into toxins inside the body, and their effects on the kidneys and liver. Additionally, they talked about infection prevention and ways to maintain physical health.

The aim of the visit was to raise awareness among teenagers about their responsibility to maintain their health. At the end of the seminar, the school principal thanked the university for its efforts to promote a healthy society. Special thanks were given to the students, A.L. Osama Shukri Abdullah, and the head of the Medical Laboratory Analysis Department, Mr. Sarwan Wasman Hamad, for their contributions.

On Tuesday February 18, 2025, students from the Medical Laboratory Analysis Department conducted a seminar at Muhammad Nasser Intermediate School in Erbil. The seminar, titled Blood Type Testing, was conducted by the Medical Laboratory Analysis students to educate school students on blood type testing.

They were warmly received by the school principal, Ms. Shirin Omar Arabok. During the seminar, the blood type test was explained and demonstrated to the school students. The different blood types A, B, AB, and O were introduced, and the concept of blood transfusions was discussed. The session highlighted how blood is transferred from a donor to a recipient in need due to various reasons, such as car accidents or blood deficiency diseases. The importance of knowing one’s blood type in emergency situations was also emphasized, as it can save lives in critical moments.

At the end of the seminar, the information about blood types and their significance was shared with the students. The school staff and students expressed their gratitude for the informative seminar, which reflects Cihan University’s commitment to educating future generations about important safety matters.

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, as part of its commitment to academic outreach, the students from the Medical Microbiology Department at Cihan University- Erbil presented an insightful seminar at Khanay Qubadi Primary School in Erbil under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Zahrakhan Maaruf Tahir.

They were warmly received by the school’s director, Mr. Fakhraldin Muhsin Qasab and Mrs. Kurdistan Nader.

The awareness session took place in the school hall, where Medical Microbiology students engaged with fifth-grade pupils, delivering a seminar on proper hygiene practices and essential health measures. The session emphasized preventive strategies to protect children from infections within the school environment.

At the end of the seminar, the students presented the school director with an educational poster illustrating key hygiene and health measures. Additionally, they distributed sweets among the children as a gesture of goodwill. The Medical Microbiology students expressed their gratitude to the school administration for their warm reception and cooperation in facilitating the event.