Sohar Hosts “Wateen” Campaign to Promote Heart Health Awareness

“Prevention First”: Wateen Campaign Raises Community Awareness on Heart Diseases

Sohar: The “Wateen” campaign for the prevention of heart diseases was launched today in the Wilayat of Sohar, North Al Batinah Governorate, under the slogan “Prevention First”, as part of the activities of the Sohar Festival.

The campaign is implemented with the participation of students from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the National University of Science and Technology, in cooperation with the Oman Heart Association.

The initiative includes an integrated preventive programme combining on-site blood pressure screenings and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills, with the aim of enhancing community preparedness to address the causes of stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery diseases.

Dr. Afrah bint Hamoud Al-Jabri, Member of the Oman Heart Association and a certified trainer from the American Heart Association, stated that empowering individuals with CPR skills constitutes a key preventive pillar that helps overcome fear and enhances readiness to respond appropriately during the “golden minutes” following sudden cardiac arrest.

She explained that early and systematic intervention not only saves lives but also protects vital organs from permanent damage. She emphasized that adherence to regular medical check-ups and blood pressure monitoring plays a critical role in the early detection of heart failure and coronary artery conditions before complications arise.

For her part, Dr. Samah bint Abdullah Al-Araimi, Member of the Oman Heart Association and a certified trainer from the American Heart Association, noted that the campaign aims to establish a community-based health security system that begins with the individual and extends to society at large. She highlighted the importance of correcting misconceptions related to dietary habits and physical activity as the first line of defense against strokes.

She added that integrating scientific awareness with practical application enhances community response efficiency, transforms health awareness into sustainable preventive behavior, reduces emergency response time, and contributes to safeguarding public health and protecting cardiac vitality.

This field initiative reflects a commitment to strengthening quality health education, as the “Wateen” campaign succeeded in translating preventive awareness from theory into tangible practice through broad community engagement, supporting national efforts to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.

The campaign seeks to promote a society equipped with comprehensive preventive readiness and the capacity to respond effectively to emergency health situations.