The Continuing Education Unit at the College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, organized a specialized workshop titled “Health Care for Newborns: Between Science and Superstition,” presented by Prof. Dr. Hawra Hussein Gafel in the Continuing Education Hall, attended by a group of faculty members and those interested in maternal and child health. The workshop aimed to highlight the sound scientific foundations of newborn care, debunk the most prominent misconceptions and common myths circulating in society regarding the care of infants in their first days of life, and raise participants’ awareness of the importance of evidence-based health education to improve child health and reduce potential health risks.
The workshop included extensive interactive discussions on traditional community practices, during which a number of inaccurate concepts were corrected and practical, simplified guidelines were provided to mothers and healthcare providers to ensure the safety of the newborn. The workshop concluded with a set of key recommendations emphasizing the need to rely entirely on reliable medical sources, intensify awareness programs to curb the spread of unhealthy practices, and support the role of nursing and health personnel in educating mothers and establishing proper preventive health practices both within and outside healthcare institutions.
This scientific event is part of a series of activities organized by the Continuing Education Unit aimed at developing health and scientific awareness within the academic community, thereby directly contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being, by ensuring a safe and healthy start for children and protecting them from the risks posed by uninformed traditional practices.
