‘Muazzaz’ initiative aims to recognize health-promoting malls

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health, represented by the Healthy Cities Office, launched the final evaluation phase of the “Muazzaz” initiative, which aims to recognize health-promoting malls across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The evaluation marks a key step ahead of the announcement of winning malls at the regional level. Director of the Healthy Cities Office Dr Amal Al-Yahya said on Sunday that the initiative is supervised by the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities and supported by the Gulf Health Council. She noted that the effort is part of broader joint Gulf activities to improve living environments and promote public health across the region.

Dr Amal Al-Yahya

Amira Al Arimi

Director of Dar Al Othman Abdullah Al Othman

Al-Yahya explained that the current evaluation is being conducted through collaboration at the national and regional levels by accrediting and classifying participating malls. She pointed out that Kuwait has been implementing the initiative since 2023 and has so far accredited six health-promoting malls. This year, The Promenade, The Avenues, and 360 Mall are participating in the evaluation phase, which includes on-site visits by evaluators from both Kuwait and other GCC countries, she added.

Amira Al-Arimi, an evaluation specialist from Oman, praised Kuwait’s leadership in advancing the Muazzaz initiative, highlighting the country’s role in developing the program’s implementation guide. Al-Arimi noted this is her third visit to Kuwait and commended the nation’s distinguished efforts, which align with community initiatives adopted by the World Health Organization. Director of Dar Al-Othman, Abdullah Al-Othman, expressed pride in The Promenade Mall’s continued participation in the initiative, citing efforts to provide a safe and healthy shopping environment. These include hosting health awareness campaigns, organizing blood donation drives, and inaugurating the Al-Othman Ambulance Center last April.

Al-Othman added that The Promenade received gold accreditation in the first edition of the initiative, reaffirming its commitment to supporting public health and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. In June, the Ministry of Health hosted the 24th meeting of the Joint Gulf Committee for Healthy Cities, during which representatives discussed health-promoting commercial communities and organized a training course for field evaluators, including site visits to participating shopping centers. — KUNA