Cairo University’s Faculty of Mass Communication inaugurated its 30th International Conference on Tuesday, under the theme “Health Communication and the Empowerment of Contemporary Communities.” The two-day event, taking place from May 7 to 8, has brought together a distinguished group of academics, healthcare professionals, media experts, and digital content creators from Egypt and across the globe.

The conference is held under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of Cairo University, and is organized under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Thuraya El-Badawy, Dean of the Faculty and President of the Conference, with Prof. Dr. Wissam Nasr, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, serving as Secretary-General of the event.

The opening ceremony witnessed the participation of several high-ranking officials, including Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities and former Minister of Higher Education; Dr. Mahmoud El-Sayed, Vice President of Cairo University for Postgraduate Studies and Research; Dr. Abla El-Alfi, Deputy Minister of Health and Chair of the National Population Council; Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky, Head of the General Authority for Healthcare; and Dr. Ihab Abou Eish, Deputy Head of the Universal Health Insurance Authority.

In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Thuraya El-Badawy emphasized the need for participatory health communication, stating that empowering communities requires building robust partnerships between smart health media and the public. She also praised President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s numerous health initiatives that have laid the foundation for a healthier society.

Dr. El-Badawy highlighted key enablers for effective communication, including simplifying scientific language, avoiding elitist discourse filled with technical jargon, and encouraging citizens to become active producers of health-related content rather than passive consumers. She also stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making supported by research centers, fostering transparency, and promoting citizen engagement through initiatives and competitions.

Prof. Dr. Wissam Nasr, Secretary-General of the Conference, welcomed guests from civil society organizations and academic institutions both from Egypt and abroad. She remarked that the conference touches on vital challenges and opportunities in the fast-evolving world of health, underscoring health communication as a powerful tool for raising awareness, correcting misinformation, and encouraging informed health decisions.

According to Dr. Nasr, the strong institutional support from Cairo University, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Association of Arab Universities reflects the national and academic commitment to advancing media-health collaboration in the context of sustainable development goals and improving quality of life.

Dr. El-Sayed commended the wide-ranging agenda, which includes discussions on state healthcare efforts, AI applications in health journalism, and health marketing strategies. He concluded by thanking the conference organizers and expressing hope that the ideas presented would enrich applied research and policy development.

In his address, Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama highlighted the strategic importance of health communication in empowering individuals and combating misinformation. He called for greater investment in training media professionals to produce comprehensive and accurate health messaging.

He stressed the need for integrated academic curricula that combine media, health education, and interdisciplinary sciences to equip graduates with the tools necessary for effective public communication. Salama praised Cairo University for leading efforts in launching academic programs focused on digital transformation and media-health integration.

Dr. Salama also pointed to the rising influence of Arab media platforms in promoting public health awareness and the necessity of leveraging the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions to transform health communication into a strategic tool for crisis management and public education.

The conference continues through May 8 at the Faculty of Mass Communication, featuring a series of specialized panels and research presentations on psychological and physical well-being, health campaigns, digital health tools, and AI applications