As part of ‘Ma’kom for an Active Lifestyle’ program, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, MOHAP, organized an event under the theme “Let’s Move” within the National Program for Promoting Physical Activity among Children which aims to encourage children to adopt healthy lifestyles.
The event was held in the presence of H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdel Rahman Al-Rand, Undersecretary of the Ministry’s Health Assistant Sector, Health Centers and Clinics, Dr. Fadila Mohamed Sherif, Director of MOHAP’s Health Education & Promotion Department, a number of MoHAP and SM employees, and big crowd of families and community members.
Al-Qarain Park in Sharjah hosted the event on 14 – 15 November from 4 – 10 pm and the activities included interactive dynamic games for children to encourage them to play and move, in addition to learning more about the heritage games.
Tips were provided for parents about the importance of mobility and play for their children for 60 minutes on a daily basis and how to split this time throughout the day according to WHO’s recommendations.
Also, free interactive game gifts were handed out to children to motivate them to exercise games and indoor activities in an interesting and funny way.
Utilizing Innovation in Obesity Control
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand pointed to the importance of concerted efforts to tackle obesity challenges through the integration of both federal and private sector levels, as well as mobilizing energy and exploiting innovation to eradicate obesity and its repercussions such as chronic diseases and its health, psychological, and economic burdens at all levels.
Al-Rand shed light on the outcomes of the national initiative for promoting awareness about healthy lifestyles, which will significantly contribute to building community capabilities to adopt healthy lifestyles, providing them with the necessary skills, and creating a health-supportive environment.
This would help curb the prevalence of non-communicable diseases through eating healthy food and physical activity, with the involvement of communities and civil society institutions in health promotion programs in cooperation with the partners from the public and private sectors.
Elevating Awareness about Obesity among Children
He said that these community events aim to enhance awareness about the fight against obesity among children, pursuant to the National Agenda indicators to reduce obesity rates among children from 14.4% to 12% by the year 2021.
Dr. Fadila Mohammed Sharif said: “The event aims to boost physical activity among children in a funny and entertaining way and it falls within ‘Ma’kom for an Active Lifestyle’ program, which in turn embraces several specialized initiatives. These efforts aim to engage and empower community members to take serious steps towards improving their health status. Earlier in October, we launched a two-month “STEPS” for individuals over 18 years of age to stimulate them to adopt healthy lifestyles to protect them from diseases and motivate their positive energy.”
While thanking the event supporters including Sharjah Municipality, Sanofi Group, Sketcher, Al Ain Water, and Lama Foundation, Sherif stressed MoHAP’s keenness on implementing an action plan comprising all the concerned parties including families, representatives of educational facilities, health practitioners, and children in accordance with specific timeframes and assessment indicators to encourage all society segments to follow healthy lifestyles to deal with obesity challenge.