Sajjad Fazel

Sajjad Sherally Fazel (born May 14, 1991) is a Canadian clinical pharmacist, public health researcher, health columnist and the founder of Afya Yako, Tanzania's first online health promotion initiative.[1][2][3] Afya Yako impacted thousands of Tanzanians and inspired an online health movement in Tanzania.[4][5]

Dr.

Sajjad Fazel
Born14 May 1991
NationalityCanadian
Alma materManipal Academy of Higher Education (PharmD.) University of Western Ontario (MPH)
Occupation
  • Health researcher
  • Columnist
  • Public health advocate

Early life and education

Sajjad was born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He graduated from Haven of Peace Academy in 2009. He received a Doctor of Pharmacy from Manipal Academy of Higher Education in early 2015. During his time at Manipal, he was the lead for VSO - Manipal, a university voluntary organization.[6] In 2018, he received a Master of Public Health from the University of Western Ontario. Sajjad received an Institute Community Support Travel Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for presenting a poster on Afya Yako at the Canadian Public Health Association Conference in 2018.[7] He is also a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers community.[8] He currently resides in Calgary.[2]

Career

Columnist

Sajjad began his career in journalism in early 2014, by writing for a local magazine called, What's happening in Dar. In early 2015, he caught the eye of Nipashe editor, who hired Sajjad as a health columnist for the Swahili language Tanzanian newspaper. Sajjad remained with Nipashe for 6 months, covering local health issues.[9][10]

In July 2015, Sajjad left Nipashe and was immediately recruited by The Citizen editor as a health columnist for a new health page published every Monday. At The Citizen, Sajjad discussed about various health topics and advocated for change in the health sector by raising various concerns that provoked thought and action.[11][12][13][14][15]

In July 2016, Sajjad advocated against the widespread use of Hookah in Tanzania through various articles[16][17][18] and radio talks[19] that led the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli to ban the use of Hookah nationwide.[20]

Sajjad continued his advocacy by bringing to light the Aflatoxin epidemic in Tanzania and proposing a solution for it.[21] Questions were raised towards the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by the public[22] and funding for the proposed solution began which completed in December 19, 2017.[23]

Throughout 2016, Sajjad continued to advocate about the rise of Non-communicable diseases in Tanzania, discussing various topics including healthy eating and the importance of exercise.[24][25] This caused the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to institute a national day of exercise in December 2016.[26]

Social media

In June 2016, Sajjad founded Afya Yako Online, a Swahili-based health education and awareness health initiative that educated and empowered thousands of Tanzanians on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.[27] This initiative was sponsored by Kwanza TV.[3] In 2017, the Afya Yako Online initiative had received great acclaim from notable persons, politicians and media alike.[28][29]

Research

In May 2018, Sajjad joined the Canadian Cancer Society as a policy researcher working on the smoke-free campuses initiative.[1][2] This initiative advocated for post-secondary institutions to adopt a 100% smoke-free campus and produced a report of smoke-free campuses in Canada, as a result, several university and colleges adopted the policy and the initiative received wide media attention.[30][31][32][33][34]

In January 2019, Sajjad joined Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary as a public health researcher studying the safe handling of antineoplastic drugs.[1] He is currently researching and addressing the spread of COVID-19 misinformation for which he has appeared on several news outlets [35][36][37][38]

Other media appearances

Sajjad has appeared in numerous Television and Radio shows as himself advocating for healthy policies and educating the public.[39] He also appeared on BBC Swahili Radio in October 2016.[40] Sajjad continues to provide commentary on various health issues for Tanzanian Newspapers.[41][42][43] He has also appeared several times as a guest speaker on Canadian radio shows.[44][45][46]

gollark: I am not aware of "calculus of variations".
gollark: http://scp-wiki.net/scp-033
gollark: That information is beyond your clearance level.
gollark: [REDACTED] and [DATA EXPUNGED].
gollark: ++delete SCP-θ'

References
  1. "Researcher Profile: Dr Sajjad Fazel". University of Calgary. 10 January 2019.
  2. "Dr Sajjad Fazel, Research Director, Knight's Cabin". Knight's Cabin. 4 August 2019.
  3. "Dr Sajjad Fazel: 'Social media can be used for public good, not just celebrity gossip'". 4 September 2017.
  4. Editor (11 February 2018). "MUHAS students now join Tanzania's growing health information crusade".CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Dhanji-Mistry, Sabira (8 May 2019). "How a Twitter post changed thousands of lives".
  6. "VSO spreads smiles through Daan Utsav". October 11, 2014.
  7. "Morressier". www2.morressier.com.
  8. "Calgary Hub". Global Shapers.
  9. "Mbegu maboga zinavyofunika supu ya pweza". ippmedia.com.
  10. "800 wapimwa, kutibiwa bure". ippmedia.com.
  11. "THE PHARMACIST : Four steps to preventing malaria". 10 July 2017.
  12. "Maternal healthcare given the top priority". 21 July 2017.
  13. "THE PHARMACIST: Effects of birth control pills". 7 August 2017.
  14. "PHARMACIST : 9 benefits of stopping smoking". 24 April 2017.
  15. "PHARMACIST : Be careful about your fairness cream". 13 March 2017.
  16. "Shisha smoking session equals to consuming 100 cigarettes". 20 July 2016.
  17. "Madhara ya Shisha".
  18. "Madhara ya Shisha".
  19. "Choice FM Freedom on Twitter".
  20. "Tanzania bans shisha pipe smoking". 5 July 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  21. "Aflatoxins : The invisible poison". 1 August 2016.
  22. "New questions on food poison". 2 August 2016.
  23. https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-Tanzania-eyes-new-tech-to-fight-aflatoxins/1840340-4741030-592lw1/index.html
  24. "PHARMACIST: Cut cost by physical fitness in 2017". 4 January 2017.
  25. "PHARMACIST : Be healthy, eat what you want". 10 October 2016.
  26. "Tanzania calls for national day of exercise to help combat obesity - Jamii Radio". 18 December 2016.
  27. https://news.westernu.ca/2019/09/alumnus-harnesses-social-media-for-health-in-tanzania/
  28. "Afya yako i kiganjani mwako - DW - 24.02.2017".
  29. Editor, A. D. C. (April 17, 2019). "Tanzanian Pharmacist Inspired A Wave Of Online Health Promotion Programs".CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  30. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/colleges-universities-moving-fast-to-make-campuses-smoke-free-1.4092030
  31. https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/more-canadian-university-and-college-campuses-going-smoke-free-report
  32. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/more-canadian-university-and-college-campuses-going-smoke-free-report-1.4092673
  33. https://www.thestar.com/news/cannabis/2018/09/13/more-canadian-university-and-college-campuses-going-smoke-free-report.html
  34. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-growing-number-of-canadian-university-and-college-campuses-now-smoke/
  35. https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1724103747593
  36. https://www.bbc.com/swahili/bbc_swahili_radio/w172xjt4kgxlhn5
  37. https://youtube.com/LiISebRl4k4
  38. https://youtube.com/YegUA5hpApw?t=1137
  39. TZA, Reporters. "Mtu anavyoweza kupata ugonjwa wa Ini kupitia Salon – Millardayo.com". millardayo.com.
  40. "Teknolojia kuboresha huduma ya afya". 24 October 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  41. "Study on mass distribution of antibiotics worrying: medics". 20 May 2018.
  42. "Why diabetes still ruins people's lives". 13 November 2017.
  43. "Uproar greets new study on antibiotics". 2 August 2017.
  44. https://omny.fm/shows/charles-adler-tonight/flattening-the-curve-through-mandatory-self-quaran
  45. https://omny.fm/shows/ryan-jespersen-show/coronavirus-and-the-spread-of-misinformation
  46. https://omny.fm/shows/ryan-jespersen-show/vaping-how-bad-is-it-for-you-really
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