Abu Dhabi: Encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles, along with reviewing how to best promote health and wellness issues will be discussed at a conference here on Monday.
Daman, the national health insurance company, will sponsor its Creating Healthy Communities Conference, bringing together 300 local and international health specialists at Zayed University.
The conference will discuss how to best promote health and wellness within communities, and how to apply international best practices throughout the UAE to improve public health. The conference will also gather stakeholders from the public and private sectors to address public health and related concerns.
“This conference is aligned with the Abu Dhabi Plan, under which a healthy lifestyle that includes preventive services and world-class medical care is a strategic objective.” said Mohammad Sultan Al Hameli, chairman of the Board, Daman.
“Daman is keen to promote healthy living by raising public awareness about health-related issues, and bringing us all together in creating healthy communities within the UAE, “ he added.
The conference will feature several high-profile speakers who will share insights on engaging communities to promote good health and well-being.
At the conference, Mick Cornett will talk about his experiences in creating a community weight loss programme in which participants lost a combined one million pounds in 2008. He began the drive to reduce obesity in the US state of Oklahoma, after it was listed as home to among the most obese residents in the USA.
The conference will also welcome Dr Claude Marcus, an expert on childhood obesity and related disorders, who will deliver his speech, titled ‘Food at the Heart of the Community’. Dr Marcus will explain how to guide the public in making healthier choices with food, as well as other tactics to combat childhood obesity.
Jon Duschinsky, creator of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, will discuss behavioural engineering and, with the use of practical tools, how Abu Dhabi can build movements that change the way people think about healthy living.
Also present will be Carl Lewis, the nine-time Olympic gold medallist who set several track and field records. Lewis will speak about ways to inspire younger generations to develop healthy lifestyles.
Over the past decade, Daman has pioneered the initiative to create awareness and engage with UAE communities on the importance of adopting an active and healthy lifestyle. It has done so through multiple platforms, such as Daman’s ActiveLif, the health and fitness programme designed to motivate UAE society in maintaining healthy lifestyles. Also, the Daman Corporate Health Awards will be announced, which recognise the best employers in the UAE for their commitment and success in organisational health and wellness schemes.
