Under the theme "Your safety is our goal," the heat exhaustion prevention campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah (SCFA) continues to gain momentum. Launched on July 17, the campaign targets workers at construction sites in various cities and regions of the emirate and is set to continue through August.
This initiative, marked by a unique blend of collaboration between local government bodies and private entities, brings together several partners. These include Sharjah Police, the Emirates Health Services represented by the Sharjah Public Health Centre, the Labour Standards Development Authority, Sharjah Municipality, the Department of Municipalities Affairs, Sharjah Charity International, Sharjah Cooperative Society, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority.
Complementing this collaboration, private entities such as Fast Building Contractors, Jubail Souq, and Zulal Water Factory have joined hands, underscoring a community-wide commitment to worker welfare.
The campaign, with a multifaceted approach to worker welfare, seeks not only to honour the toil and dedication of those labouring in the summer heat but also to inculcate values of social solidarity within the broader community.
By introducing targeted segments of society to preventive measures and promoting sound health practises, the initiative lays out a proactive blueprint to stave off heat exhaustion, raising the level of health consciousness among the very workers who help build and sustain the emirate.
Campaign sites
More than just words, the campaign has already had a tangible impact. In July alone, over 3,288 people benefited from activities at locations including Al Hamriyah Sports Club, Al Qasimia University, Sharjah National Park "Airport Park", Palm Oasis in Buhaira Corniche, Tilal City, Al Juraina.
The programme includes eye tests, blood pressure and sugar level monitoring, awareness lectures, and the distribution of essentials such as water, food, sunscreen, and even personal gifts. The campaign's extended reach will include the central and eastern regions of the emirate this month, widening its embrace.