On March 19th the University officially announced the opening of the Poison Control and Drug Information Center. The center is located inside the health-professions building at the new campus and is a complement to other distinguished centers that are already functioning at the university. It will provide services to both medical professionals and the general public. The official opening ceremonies took place in presence of the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, as well as the University President, the Representative of the Palestinian Development and Investment Company (PADICO), presidential assistances, the deans of different university faculties, directors of scientific centers, faculty members, representatives and directors of hospitals and professional associations, NGO's and last but not least, representatives of community associations.
Dr. Ansam Sawalha, Director of the center and coordinator of the event, stated the importance of this center as a pioneering step throughout the Palestinian Territories, it is the first and only center established and run by Palestinians. The main goal of the center is to offer up-to-date information on the treatment of poisoned patients. Such information will be provided by the center staff to medical professionals who work at health care centers. The center will also provide information about the toxicity of chemicals in their surroundings to the general public and will teach them methods for the prevention of poisoning. A key concern of the Poison Control and Drug Information Center is the supply of information related to drugs, concerning their doses, side effects, use during pregnancy, dosing among special population, dose adjustments, indications and contra indications.
The center will collaborate with different agencies in order to monitor and give recommendations regarding chemical use in industry, agriculture and food preparation. It will also focus on the effects of environmental contaminants on human health and on methods to avoid the harm they produce. The center will provide guidance regarding abuse of drugs and contingency plans to be followed in cases of chemical contamination. Research and education are also among the main priorities of this center.
Dr. Sawalha thanked all who have helped in bringing this center to existence and expressed her gratitude to PADICO for providing the financial support. The first event that was organized by the Poison Control and Drug Information Center was the participation in activities during the Poison Prevention Week (March 19-25th, 2006). Many activities were held, such as an exhibition on poison awareness and prevention that included topics on poisonous plants; the toxicity of mercury in cosmetics, amalgam and vaccines; the effects of fertilizers and pesticides; toxicity produced by house hold items; toxic consequences of fire (this was performed in collaboration with the fire fighter department/ Nablus Municipality); the Ozone depletion and its effects on humans and the environment; the incidence of poisoning; the existence of toxic ingredients in cosmetics; venomous animals in Palestine; dealing with biohazardous waste in hospitals; safe handling of cytotoxic drugs; toxic chemicals in toys and many others.
Many visitors, including school students, toured the exhibition. Schools had their share in the Poison Prevention Week, for students went to the schools and gave lectures to increase the awareness of poisonous materials at homes and give ideas and advices on how to avoid poisoning.
A series of lectures were given at university by professionals, such as acetaminophen overdose, treatment of poisoned patients, organophosphate poisoning, medication errors, drug interactions, abuse of drugs, antibiotic misuse, drugs during pregnancy and lactation, poly-pharmacy, drug screening in urine, the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers and many more.