The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has recently organized a community event as part of the 'Food for Life' campaign, under the theme 'Together for a healthy Ramadan,' in efforts raise public awareness, improve the health of individuals, and provide them with skills that contribute to strengthening health sustainability.
Held at Arabian Center in Dubai, the event aimed to highlight the importance of healthy food derived from sustainable sources, as well as its impact on the environment, society, and future generations.
It focused on promoting awareness of healthy lifestyles and local sustainable food sources in the country, and also integrating all segments of society into various activities and events, with the participation of local madar farms, which provided local products to educate the community about the types of local crops and the benefits of local agriculture as well as its impact on the health of individuals and society.
Health and environmental dimensions
In his address during the event, HE Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, stated, "’The 'Food for Life' campaign, which was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Emirates Nature-WWF, seeks to build a better healthier future, through the application of healthy patterns and sustainable diets."
He added, "By educating and engaging people about the influence that their food choices have on their health and the overall health of the planet, the campaign offers interactive, compelling, and informative content to build a better, healthier future."
Al Rand maintained that the event is part of the integrated efforts to enhance community awareness for the importance of health and food, and to encourage community participation.
He explained that the campaign aims to boost efforts to ensure a sustainable diet future in the food chain, by consolidating individuals' awareness on how to deal with changes, in order to achieve optimal growth and development for community members.
Healthy Nutrition and Sustainability
Speaking on the occasion, Nouf Khamis Al Ali, Director of the Health Promotion Department, MoHAP said, “The event, which took place in cooperation with the Arabian Center, focused on preserving biological and environmental diversity through healthy eating and sustainable sources. It also aims to educate and entertain people by introducing them to the best food sources and encouraging them to be more conscious of what they eat. The goal is to modify people's lifestyles and dietary habits, as well as the impacts that individuals can have on their health and the environment.”
She noted that the event especially targeted children and young individuals, and was designed to educate them to different food groups and healthy habits that contribute to healthy growth through games and competitions in a fun environment.
The project, which was developed in collaboration with Emirati coach Adnan Al Hashimi, focused on the necessity of physical activity and the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle.
In partnership with Thumbay Hospitals in Dubai, the event also included a body mass index (BMI) examination. Furthermore, nutritionists described various food types and portions in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization recommendations (WHO). Some healthy recipes were also prepared using healthy, locally sourced produce by Chef Bilal Saleh from Double Tree by Hilton.
'Food for Life campaign' objectives
The food for Life campaign is intended to help all individuals achieve optimal growth and development, and support their functional performance and physical, mental, and social well-being at all stages of life.
It is also aimed at preventing all types of malnutrition (such as undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight, and obesity), lowering the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases, and preserving biological and environmental diversity.
In addition, it seeks to promote integrated efforts to ensure a sustainable food future among all parties in the food chain by increasing their awareness.