Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will host a series of events during the month of November, in recognition of World Diabetes Day (WDD), screening thousands of residents across the country and raising awareness about ways to better manage and prevent the disease.
Observed each year on November 14, WDD was introduced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1991, in response to the global increase in cases.
“Raising awareness of diabetes through events such as World Diabetes Day is critical. At HMC, we devote a significant amount of time to educating our patients, and the public, about diabetes and its risk factors because we recognise it is important that the whole community understands this disease,” said Manal Othman, director of Diabetes Education at HMC.
HMC’s major public outreach and awareness activities this year will include public screenings in Doha, Al Khor, Al Wakrah and Mesaieed and a multi-cultural healthy food expo at Hamad General, Women’s, Al Khor and Al Wakra Hospitals.The expo will provide patients and visitors with an opportunity to sample a variety of cuisines and learn about healthier food options from dietitians.
The schedule of planned events also includes a number of diabetes education sessions competitions for students, teachers and a mobile clinic at Sealine Beach Resort in Mesaieed, that will feature dietary education, blood glucose screening and prize giveaways.
Awareness workshop for imams
The National Diabetes Centre at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad General Hospital, in collaboration with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, recently held a diabetes awareness workshop for mosque imams.
This is the second such workshop conducted by HMC and aimed at raising public awareness about this chronic disease by teaching imams about diabetes prevention and providing them with tips and themes to develop their Friday sermons.
“These workshops focus on raising public awareness about diabetes through imams at local mosques. The imams are encouraged to use Friday sermons and Islamic lectures to educate people on the importance of a healthy diet and physical exercise for diabetes prevention and treatment,” said HMC’s chairman of Internal Medicine, Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra.
He said the imams will use the knowledge gained during the workshop to inform the public about the healthy lifestyle led by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and his companions.
Manal Othman
