On Monday, August 25th,
2025, the Faculty of Pharmacy at Zarqa University organized a special awareness
event for children and their families at Zarqa Governmental Hospital –
Children's Floor, under the supervision of Clinical Pharmacist Sahar Al-Azzam.
The event included recreational
activities, competitions, and drawings, along with educational balloons and
awareness brochures. The event aimed to educate mothers and children on the
proper use of antibiotics, distinguish between germs and viruses, and emphasize
the importance of adhering to the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
Dr. Ahlam Al-Kilani, Dean of the
Faculty of Pharmacy at Zarqa University, emphasized that this event falls
within the framework of the university's mission to serve the local community
and promote health awareness among all segments of the community. She
emphasized that the misuse of antibiotics is one of the most prominent health
challenges facing the world today.
Dr. Al-Kilani explained that during
the activity, a questionnaire was distributed to a sample of ten mothers to
measure their awareness of the proper use of antibiotics. The results showed
that 40% of mothers believe that antibiotics treat influenza, while 50% do not
know that antibiotics do not affect viruses.
It also showed that 50% of mothers
give antibiotics to their children without completing the prescribed dose,
while 30% of them admitted that they request a prescription for antibiotics
from a doctor even if it is not necessary. Furthermore, 80% did not have any
information about bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Al-Kilani emphasized that the Faculty
seeks, through these activities, to spread the culture of rational drug use and
clarify the difference between diseases that require antibiotics. The
use of antibiotics and those that are not necessary, in addition to explaining
the dangers of stopping treatment before completing the prescribed dose.
She pointed out that the increasing
resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses a real threat to human health,
which requires community and institutional cooperation to mitigate this
phenomenon and protect future generations.