A one-day diabetes awareness campaign was organised by healthcare students and Qatar Diabetes Association volunteers at the Villagio Mall yesterday.
Scores of people, especially women, sought information about symptoms and treatment, while they also checked their body mass index and blood glucose.
They received nutritional tips and health education from student volunteers who manned the pavilion.
Though, readings for a number of visitors were found to be normal, some were diagnosed to be pre-diabetic because they had a family history of the disease or led a sedentary lifestyle.
A total of nine students out of about 200 volunteers from Qatar Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (QPhUS), students from the Qatar University’s College of Pharmacy and Department of Health Sciences, Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), and University of Calgary – Qatar (UCQ) Nursing students took part in the event.
Speaking to Gulf Times, QU’s senior specialist for Business, Marketing and Communication Tammy King said that the event was the first of its kind inter-professional student collaboration for a public health campaign involving pharmacy, nursing, nutrition and biomedical science disciplines partnering with an organisation like QDA.
“This event gives the students, who are in their first to fourth year of studies, the opportunity to showcase their health sciences knowledge by offering the public the right information pertaining to their health,” she said.
King noted that the campaign pavilion was situated near the food court to further create awareness about the health risks of fast foods, which she said were high in fat, sugar and calories.
“Not many people are aware that fast foods predispose them to a lot of health problems, which is why we have chosen to stay here and create awareness about healthy eating.” |
