Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), in collaboration with Oryx GTL, has launched a series of 12 animated films in English and Arabic for schoolchildren on the subject of diabetes.
The short educational videos will serve as a tool for both children and adults to raise awareness about diabetes and provide an insight into how to deal with the disease in specific ways.
The films will be circulated in schools to highlight the needs of diabetic students, ensuring that they benefit from the same educational experiences their fellow students enjoy in order to achieve success academically and socially.
The films will also be circulated via social networks and cinemas for all members of the community.
Dr Abdullah al-Hamaq, executive director, QDA, said: “QDA believes in the importance of ensuring the rights of all children suffering from diabetes. We work with schools as this represents a formative stage of life where children are in continuous and close care; to this end, the association launched the ‘Rights of the Diabetic Student’ initiative in 2005.
Dr Abdulaziz Ali al-Saadi, director of health and safety at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, stressed that the newly introduced department of health and safety at the ministry would make sure that children with diabetes got the necessary
due care.
Eye on school canteens: There are plans to strictly monitor school canteens to ensure that only healthy meals are provided to students and special care is afforded to those with diabetes.
Dr al-Saadi said a survey conducted last year across all schools in Qatar – both public and private – revealed that there were around 680 students suffering from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, out of an estimated 260,000 students.
“This is a very high rate. The reasonable rate should be within 10 for every 100,000 students, meaning that we should not have more than 26 students with diabetes in our schools.”
To address such concerns, he added, there are plans to increase physical activities in schools and instruct children on how to develop healthy eating habits.
Representatives of entities involved in the diabetes initiative. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
