The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced that eight of its leaders and one family member recently climbed the 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
The climb up to the summit of Kilimanjaro took place with the aim of leading by example in raising awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, HMC said in a statement.
This group initiative was a collaboration between senior staff members from different areas of the organisation and involved significant training amid their busy schedules. The leaders hoped it would encourage others to incorporate physical activities into their daily lives and also instil a culture of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The team of nine, including doctors, administrators and one family member, started the climb early in the morning. All members endured a long and hard journey in challenging weather conditions before making it to the Mount Kilimanjaro summit, the statement added.
Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medical director for Hamad General Hospital, said: “The idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was irresistible; the actual climbing to the summit was amazing, but doing it as a team made it even better. The overall experience was unforgettable and exhausting at the same time. The hardest part of it for me was to go without a proper shower for eight days.”
Commenting on the challenges, Dr al-Maslamani added: “It is not really the walking that was challenging, but the altitude. Climbers usually get a headache or other gentle symptoms of acute mountain sickness that can be mostly solved by taking a mild analgesic, such as paracetamol, to relieve the pain. However, some climbers might experience high altitude pulmonary edema, which is extreme shortness of breath, or high altitude cerebral edema. We were sure to keep an eye out for any worrying symptoms and take all precautions necessary to ensure that we all had a safe and enjoyable climb.”
Mohamed al-Noimi, chief of communications and chief of staff for the managing director’s office, who was accompanied by his nephew, said: “The 20,000ft climb up Mount Kilimanjaro is a life-changing experience. It is a test of courage and perseverance and I think it helps you see the world differently. It is also an opportunity to encourage others to adopt effective practices to improve their health and support HMC’s commitment to ensure the well-being of the population of Qatar.”
Members of the HMC team.
