Camp discusses health tips for diabetic children

Dr al-Hamaq (fifth from left) with guests and children participating in the camp after the opening ceremony

The Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) launched the 11th Al Bawasil camp for children with diabetes from across the Middle East and the Arab region at the Aspire Academy yesterday.
More than 50 children aged seven to 15 years from Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran, Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Jordan are taking part in the event being held under the patronage of QDA honorary president Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
During the camp, children will be taught educational and nutritional tips and also about ways to maintain good health and stay active in order to prevent diabetes-related diseases such as obesity, QDA healthcare section head Dr Amel Adam explained.
Speaking at the opening of the five-day event, QDA executive director Dr Abdullah al-Hamaq said the aim of the workshop was to help children with diabetes and to give them hope of improving their overall quality of life by providing innovative patient care, education, research as well as regional and global camps.
"By organising this camp, we hope to enhance the confidence of parents, who are having children with diabetes. QDA has set up this camp in a friendly and safe environment to help address their psychological and physical challenges as a result of them having diabetes,” he explained.
Dr al-Hamaq said  the objective of the camp was also to give them opportunity to achieve their goals of managing and controlling their condition well.
"It is a great opportunity for the children to meet new friends and exchange experiences while at the same time laying a foundation for a healthier society,” he added.
Highlights of the opening ceremony  included a play about healthy living through exercising and maintaining balanced diets, video presentation and an artistic use of sand on a projector to create images depicting the aims of the camp.
The event is supported by Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Qatar Central Bank, Occidental Company, Al Jazeera Children’s channel, Karwa, Qtel as well as donor companies including Lifescan, Roche, Khalid Scientific, AlRawanaq-Fit well, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Olympic Committee, Childhood Cultural Centre and Kahrma.