By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

More than 50 diabetic children from 15 countries are taking part in the annual International Al Bawasil camp which opens in Qatar on Sunday.
Being held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, honorary president of Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) - Qatar Foundation, the event will teach participants the latest medical ways to manage diabetes.
At a press conference held on Thursday, QDA executive director Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq told reporters that they have prepared several activities that will help the children cope with their condition.
"I hope that this year will be a very fruitful year for the kids to learn something, to learn some skills that will help them to cope with diabetes," he said.
QDA will also engage the participants in a number of physical and recreational activities besides educational sessions.
To formulate effective programmes, al-Hamaq noted that they regularly distributed questionnaires to the delegates asking them which of the activities they "like and dislike."
"And according to this survey, we prepare and formulate our programmes for the year," he said.
Medical students will also help in facilitating some of the activities and games at the camp.
"There are many activities outside; we don’t want the kids to feel bored since they stay at the camp for seven days," he said. "We create some entertainment programmes for them."
Some institutions such as Aspire Zone and Qatar Olympic Committee have offered its facilities as venues of a number of programmes, according to al-Hamaq.
He said the Al Jaish Sports Club is supporting QDA by providing membership cards for the children.
The cards will give them the privilege to attend all the competitions of the teams and to have an autograph from their favourite players.
To reach and help more children living with diabetes, QDA had asked associations from different countries and in Qatar to send new faces to the camp.
Al-Hamaq said many of the children who previously joined the camp are now confident and knowledgeable in managing their condition.
He earlier noted that there are about 1,000 children living with Type 1 diabetes in Qatar based on Hamad Medical Corporation's records.
The 15th International Al Bawasil Children With Diabetes Camp is sponsored by Ooredoo, Action on Diabetes, El Jaish Sports Club, Art Friends Production and Aspire Zone.

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