Somali Chemical Society (SCS) is organized in various activities on chemical safety and security in the country. The activity for this year was the 1st training Workshop for Outreach plan to lawmakers on issues of chemical security activity held in Mogadishu on the 11th of February, 2019 with the theme: Chemical safety and security awareness. The activity is designed to teach participants how to secure Chemicals; it’s important for the environment and human health, and how to implement best practices of chemical security and good laboratory practices. The target people were university students, lawmakers, Media and People working in laboratories.
The overall goal of the activity intends to enhance outreach plan lawmakers on the issue of chemical security to improve disaster risk reduction and response to chemical-related hazards by providing objective information about chemical safety and security and also to spread the understanding of chemical security in Somalia. Participants become aware of SCS programs, tools, and opportunities be able to establish collaborations with SCS. This program also provides opportunities for students from universities providing a platform for students to actively participate in innovation activities in Chemistry
The activity began with an Opening Ceremony on the 11th of February with participants, Professors, Journalists, University students and several guests from Somali parliaments, government institutions, from Media (Universal TV and website writers).
The plenary speakers were from Somali Chemical Society, Somali National University, government bodies such as Ministry of public work, reconstruction &Housing and Federal Parliament of Somalia, Mr.Abdullahi Sheikh Dahir program Coordinator of Somali Chemical Society, gave his opening remarks and has welcomed all the guests.
He also emphasized the reason Somali Chemical Society was found and the main goal of the society. Mr. Mohamed KassimAwow took the stage and explained the topic on Chemical safety and security, then followed by Mr. Mohamed Said Abdi, Head of training section, representative of Somali National University (SNU), followed by Mr. Mohamed abdulkadir who addressed advancement of the society, he said “The developed countries, they developed their countries because they put their effort into educating their people and enhancing the research programs in the field of science especially in the field of chemistry, on the other hand, there is hazards, health problems, and disaster that results from the misuses of the chemical, therefore, we need to have an advanced society to run chemical safety and security awareness in the country”, Mr. Mohamed mentioned in his remarks the need to have skilled and professional chemist in the country then he welcomed the guests from Federal Parliaments Mr. AbdifitahQaasimMaxamud member of Federal Parliament of Somalia, addressed the importance of this society in the community and he said “I believe that it is a good beginning to have such activities in our country, and I encourage brothers who have organized this workshop, because it seems that a forgotten field in the country, also its important to reduce the hazards associates from chemical substances”. Followed by Mr. MohamudSiraji Abdullah member of Federal Parliament of Somalia, who also addressed the importance of educating of people and this, will happen unless the Federal Government of Somalia increases the funding given to the Ministry of Education to enhance the education sector.
During the workshop Students from various universities displayed experimental Show and supervised expertise from Somali Chemical Society. At the end of the workshop, the winner was given an award. Participants requested that the program should be continuing holding these activities. Also, it was good to have positive feedback from the participants.
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