The Faculty of Public Health obtains AUF funding for a Covid-19 pandemic research project
The Francophone University Agency (AUF) has chosen to fund the research project, submitted by the Faculty of Public Health (Branch 1), entitled "Exploring the triple interaction between the Covid-19 pandemic, the food system and non-communicable diseases in Lebanon".
The Lebanese University is one of the six universities in the Middle East whose project has been selected in the framework of the 2nd call for international projects related to the pandemic, launched by the AUF, in July 2021. An action that aims to enhance the contribution of higher education and research institutions members of the AUF to the development of solutions with technological and / or social impact to address the difficulties caused by the prolongation of the pandemic of Covid-19.
The Coordinator of Master Program in Clinical & Public Health Nutrition at the faculty - Branch 1, Prof. Maha Hoteit, indicated that this study will address the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the nutrition and health of youth in Lebanon. It will focus on the differences and changes that have occurred in the areas of health and nutrition, especially following the spread of the pandemic, the financial crisis and the explosion of the Beirut port. All these factors have strongly affected the nutritional and health status of the Lebanese population as well as the quality of the diet of young people.
In addition, Prof. Hoteit explained that this study will detect the rate of anemia and malnutrition among participants - two factors affected by food insecurity, linked to the risk of anxiety and high rates of depression.
It is noteworthy that the Faculty of Public Health and the University Medical Center (UMC) began the study preparation procedures early this year, and the practical implementation of the study will begin next February.