WHO designates CFA as the First WHO Collaborating Center in Nutrition in the Gulf Region

The World Health Organization has designated the Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Food and Agriculture at UAE University as a WHO Collaborating Center in Nutrition for research, training and outreach in nutrition and food science. This center is the first of its kind in the country and the Gulf Region, and it will tackle issues related to the health and well-being of the people of this country by addressing important nutritional problems in the community.

H E. Dr Abdullah Saad Al-khanbashi, Vice Chancellor of UAE University stated that this designation is a testimony of outstanding achievements made by the faculty members of the Department of Nutrition and Health in their research, teaching and community service provided. Dr.Ghaleb Alhadrami, Dean of the College of Agriculture, highlighted the selection criteria for an institution to be designated as WHO Collaborating Center, with particular reference to the record of achievements and ongoing activities and the willingness of the institution to provide different services at the national and international level. The College of Food and Agriculture has nominated Dr. Ayesha Salem Al Dhahei, Assistant Professor at the Department and Regional Advisor for the WHO, as the Head of the Center.

Dr. Al Dhaheri stated the ultimate goals of the Center which are to:

1. Promote greater awareness in issues related to food and nutrition in the general population and policy makers in UAE and the Gulf region.

2. Assist WHO in the prevention and treatment of nutrition related diseases, including under-nutrition, over-nutrition such as micronutrient deficiencies, obesity and diet related chronic diseases by strengthening the evidence base and developing innovative solutions.
3. Support the development, implementation and evaluation of food and nutrition policies in the UAE and the Gulf countries.
4. Assist WHO in collection and dissemination of information on nutritional status of the population and the implementation of nutrition interventions.
5. Serve as information resource center for extending research-based information on nutrition, food, and agro-health, through training workshops and seminars and publishing in academic and scientific journals.  

The launching ceremony was held under the patronage of H. E. Dr. Abdullah Saad Al-Khanbashi, Vice Chancellor of UAE University, on Tuesday the 11th of October in the Crescent Building Auditorium at the UAE University. The ceremony was attended by the WHO Headquarter and Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean leaders and Directors of other WHO Collaborating Center in the Middle East and Asia, as well as leaders of interested organizations from UAE, where they participated in the scientific program associated with this event.