Launch of the Training Program: “Better Health, Longer Life – Empowering Communities to Achieve SDG 3”
Today, Monday, August 18, 2025, marked the launch of the first session of the training program organized by the Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN), titled “Better Health, Longer Life”. The program aims to empower Arab communities and youth to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.
The first day opened with a special session, “Advancing Public Health and Maternal & Child Health”, which drew an impressive audience of over 75 young participants from across the Arab region. The rich interaction reflected the growing interest in public health as a key developmental and humanitarian priority.
Featured speakers included:
Dr. Duha Shellah – Chair of the Public Health in Emergencies and Disasters Working Group at WFPHA, Vice Chair of the WHO Youth Council for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Founder and Chairwoman of The Researchist.
Dr. Shellah discussed the challenges within maternal and child health systems, highlighting structural gaps and mechanisms to address them. She emphasized:
“We must strive to see SDG 3 not only as a future goal but as a daily necessity and a call that must be answered in the region.”
After the break, Dr. Emad Al-Shameri – Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Epidemiology, Public Health Consultant – presented key interventions and effective practices to reduce maternal and child mortality, stressing the importance of data and community-level prevention. He stated:
“Maternal and child mortality rates are among the most critical indicators public health experts use to measure the efficiency of a health system in any country.”
This program is part of AYSDN’s distinctive initiatives, designed to equip informed, competent, and trained youth to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals across the Middle East and North Africa region.