Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) has said it is proceeding with its strategy of medical care and health education for expatriate workers in Qatar, with a view to advancing the health conditions of this important segment of society and improving their personal hygiene.

In this regard, QRCS has held five informative sessions for 600 workers of Galfar Al-Misnad Engineering & Contracting.

Held at the company's worksites in Doha, Al Sheehaniya, Al Wukair, Umm Slal and Dukhan, the sessions involved theoretical and practical training in how to observe personal hygiene standards and prevent health problems, particularly communicable diseases and the consequences of smoking.

The purpose of these sessions was to raise health awareness among the beneficiaries, change their common wrong practices and reduce their morbidity rates, thereby helping increase safety and productivity that would ultimately reflect positively on the Qatari economy at large, QRCS said in a press statement.

A team of four doctors and six nurses taught the multilingual course, which was done in Arabic, English, Hindu, and Urdu to ensure clear and effective delivery of information.

At the end of the course, both the QRCS team and Galfar Al-Misnad management gave each other certificates of appreciation and agreed to continue the programme to cover the company's 4,000 workers.

Nuanita Shiti, head of the Health, Safety, and Quality Section at Galfar Al-Misnad, said the health education given by QRCS to workers is beneficial for both workers and the work itself.

He commended the efforts undertaken for the benefit of expatriate workers, directing his co-ordination team to go on with the programme in co-operation with QRCS. Shiti also suggested that mental health be added to the scope of the programme.

QRCS has urged companies and institutions operating in Qatar to pursue its health education programme for expatriate workers involved in their projects, as well as secure hygiene kits for them, in view of its considerable benefits for the health of workers. This is in the best interest of the beneficiary companies themselves, the statement notes.

This prolonged programme is inspired by QRCS's commitment to social development and health promotion in the Qatari society. With lower illness rates, particularly among workers, there will be less demand on healthcare services and fewer sick leaves. This, in turn, will translate into shorter absenteeism and higher productivity, contributing to the ambitious economic and social development strategy under Qatar National Vision 2030.

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