As part of its ongoing heart health campaign, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in partnership with the Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF), organised a walkathon for members of the public at City Center Doha recently.

The event was open to members of the public and highlighted the importance of regular exercise and its role in preventing cardiovascular disease and other health disorders.
HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman, the board of trustees of ALF, explained the Foundation’s commitment towards health in Qatar, “The Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation is proud to support this walkathon and HMC’s valuable heart health campaign. This walkathon is the latest example of our partnership with HMC, including the two very important health focused campaigns that we jointly launched earlier this summer: the Ramadan Voluntary Blood Donation campaign and the National Organ Donation campaign.”
Launched in September, HMC’s heart health campaign is currently educating the public on how to recognise the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and provides advice on what to do if a heart attack is suspected.
It also provides the public with tips on how to improve their heart heath by sharing information about heart conditions and the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.
“For those who took part in the walkathon around City Center Doha, the event reinforced the need to make time in our daily routines for exercise and physical activity,” said Mohammad al-Naama, executive director and deputy CEO of HMC’s Heart Hospital.
“Heart attacks are one of the biggest causes of death in Qatar each year, with over 20,000 patient admissions to the Heart Hospital in 2015 for this and other heart related conditions – yet by following healthy lifestyle habits, people can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease,” explained al-Naama.
The heart health campaign highlights the leading risk factors that contribute to heart disease. Inactivity, being overweight, an unhealthy diet, smoking and high blood pressure or cholesterol all increase an individual’s chances of cardiovascular disease.

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