Al-Azhar Grand Imam welcomes cooperation between NFSA and student hostels

The Grand Imam: Al-Azhar students are a trust placed in our care, and we strive to provide them with the best services

NFSA Chief: We look forward to presenting a distinguished model that extends from Al-Azhar to Egyptian universities

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad al-Tayyeb received Dr. Tarek El-Houby, Head of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), and his accompanying delegation today, Thursday, at Al-Azhar. They discussed areas of cooperation in improving food services provided to Al-Azhar students.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. El-Houby reviewed the role and tasks undertaken by NFSA to ensure the safety of food provided to citizens. He pointed out that its role is not limited to oversight alone but extends to opening markets for exporting Egyptian products and encouraging producers to raise quality standards. He also explained that the NFSA has issued a guide for workers in central kitchens in institutions, universities, and student hostels. In addition, periodic campaigns are carried out to collect and examine food samples to preserve the health of students and citizens,

Dr. El-Houby affirmed the NFSA's aspiration to cooperate with Al-Azhar's university hostels through improving the services provided by the central kitchens to Egyptian students as well as to students at the City of Islamic Missions. This role complements Al-Azhar's efforts to care for its citizens. He noted that the NFSA has a package of specialized training programs to ensure the advancement of the staff working in these kitchens. He stated, “We seek to present a successful model from within Al-Azhar that can later be extended to various Egyptian universities.”

The Grand Imam highlighted the importance of the role of regulatory bodies, especially those concerned with citizens' health. He noted that practical reality sometimes reveals a gap between idea and implementation, which requires raising community awareness of the importance of these bodies and strengthening trust between them and the public. His Eminence also emphasized the need to raise the awareness of workers and food service providers regarding adherence to health rules and standards, given the direct impact this has on people's lives.

His Eminence welcomed the cooperation between the NFSA and the central kitchens at Al-Azhar university campuses, emphasizing that Al-Azhar students are a trust placed into Al-Azhar's care, so they must receive the utmost care and attention so they can devote themselves to acquiring knowledge, learning, and literature. His Eminence added, “We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for our students, as they are the hope of the nation, and the future of its renaissance.”