Government and private organizations helped raise awareness at American University of Sharjah (AUS) yesterday, February 26, 2012. The Annual AUS Awareness Day is held to spread awareness of health, social, safety and environmental issues among students and the general public and featured participation of prominent government and private organizations.

According to Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, "AUS Awareness Day is continuously gaining popularity among the public and private sector. Many high school institutions take advantage of the event and organize trips for their students to gain valuable knowledge about the many issues that affect daily life. Organizations have also become equally interested in seizing the opportunity to reach out to young people and send their messages across. I am sure that many of our students have benefitted from the various health, social, charitable, environmental and safety campaigns brought together in one location."

Participating organizations included Sharjah Police; Sharjah City Municipality; Sharjah Sports Council; Sharjah Government, Social Care Center; Sharjah Youth Voluntary Group; Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services; Sharjah Medical District, Preventative Medicine Department; Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah; Sharjah Oral Health Project; Society for Consumer Protection, Sharjah; Health Promotion, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Breast Feeding Friends, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Friends of Kidney Patients, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Friends of Diabetes Patients, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Friends of Arthritis Patients, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Friends of Cancer Patients, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah; Noor Dubai Foundation; Dubai Police, General Department of Human Rights; Dubai Police, Information on Cyber Crime; Dubai Volunteering Center; Dubai Blood Donation Center; Abbott Nutrition, Dubai; Al Sharif Eye Center, Dubai; Right Bite, Dubai; Al Ihsan Charity Center, Ajman; and Human Appeal International, Ajman.

The event included a blood donation campaign, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, and the distribution of handouts explaining social and cultural issues. 

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Al Shehhi; Salem Al Qaseer, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs; and senior university officials.