The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain was honoured to welcome a delegation from the Muharraq Governorate and Primary Healthcare Centres to campus on 8 October, marking a shared commitment to advancing community health through collaboration during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, accompanied by members of the University management, extended appreciation to His Excellency Brigadier Jassim Al-Ghatam, Deputy Governor of Muharraq Governorate, Dr Mona Almehri, Chief for Maternal and Child Health at the Primary Healthcare Centres, Dr Sara Altamimi, Family Medicine Physician at the Primary Healthcare Centres, and Mr Fawaz Yousef Alabdullah, Director of Information at the Muharraq Governorate, for their leadership and partnership in supporting the initiative. 

The collaboration between the Muharraq Governorate, the Ministry of Health, Primary Healthcare Centres and RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, provided a free breast examination service hosted on the University campus, ensuring residents of the Muharraq Governorate could access vital screening and early detection support. The initiative continues throughout October, with additional appointments expected. 

In alignment with the University’s mission to serve the local community and strengthen healthcare awareness, medical students volunteered under the supervision of Dr Altamimi to assist with appointment management and clinical observation. Beyond the screening initiative, 108 student volunteers dedicated over 60 hours of community service to organise on-campus fundraising activities in support of Think Pink Bahrain and the Bahrain Cancer Society. 

His Excellency Brigadier Jassim Al-Ghatam added, “The Muharraq Governorate is proud to work alongside RCSI Medical University of Bahrain and the Primary Healthcare Centres in initiatives that prioritise the wellbeing of our citizens. Such partnerships reflect our shared vision for a healthier, more informed community, where preventive care and early detection are at the forefront of public health efforts.” 

Professor Sameer Otoom commented, “At RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, our mission is to have a positive impact on the local community through healthcare education, research, and community service. This collaboration with the Muharraq Governorate and the Primary Healthcare Centres reflects our joint commitment of working collaboratively to advance awareness, prevention, and early detection of prevalent diseases affecting society.” 

This collaboration reflects a shared vision of social responsibility, fostering health literacy about prevalent diseases to empower individuals and communities to lead healthier lives, and the collective pursuit of improved health outcomes for the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain.