Universities across Saudi Arabia open COVID-19 vaccine centers
February 27, 2021, 10:39 am

Universities across Saudi Arabia open COVID-19 vaccine centers

A coronavirus vaccination center at the old Jeddah airport is seen. (File photo: AP)

Several universities across Saudi Arabia are preparing to open coronavirus vaccination centers as part of efforts to support the Kingdom’s inoculation drive, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.

The centers in the capital Riyadh will be located at the King Saudi University, the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the Majmaah University and the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, SPA said.

The Bisha University will open a vaccine center in the south-western province of Asir. In Mecca, the Umm al-Qura University is setting up an inoculation center.

The Taif University, the Hail University, the Jazan University, and the University of Hafr al-Batin will also open centers in their respective cities, according to SPA.

A Medina resident receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Twitter)

Vaccines will be available at the universities for faculty members and their family members, as well as the general public.

The doses will be given to people according to priority and age group, and as per the approved electronic systems.

Specialized administrative workers will organize medical teams to ensure that the inoculation drive runs smoothly at the new centers.

The move comes as part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts, under the guidance of the education minister Hamad al-Asheikh, to join national efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, SPA said.

Under the directives of al-Asheikh, universities across Saudi Arabia have been implementing emergency plans to fight the coronavirus pandemic since February 2020, according to SPA.

This includes programs, events, and community activities that aim to raise awareness about the threat of the COVID-19 disease.

Universities in the Kingdom also provided technical and human support to state institutions in university hospitals and health centers, as well as allocated buildings for the isolation and quarantine of patients infected with the virus.

Hundreds of faculty members and university researchers in Saudi Arabia have been encouraged throughout the pandemic to present scientific studies, research, and innovations to aid the global fight against the coronavirus.

The Kingdom is ranked first in the Arab world, 12th among G20 countries, and 17th at the global level in publishing scientific research on the coronavirus.

source: Tamara Abueish

Image source: AP

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”