Sharjah: About 500 people will join a march starting in front of Sharjah TV Station Wednesday to mark the World Health Day as part of the Ministry of Health's plan to educate the community to eat healthy and exercise.
Though the UAE spends millions of dirhams on providing a good health care system, a large section of the population is overweight and suffers from obesity-related complications.
A large number of people also suffer from the debilitating diseases like diabetes and doctors are worried that the education and awareness campaigns are not reaching the people properly.
Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, will attend the World Health Day activities, which include an exhibition in a tent near the Sharjah Cooperative Union in Helwan. The event begins at 5pm.
Dr Mahmood Fikri, executive director for health policies at the Ministry of Health, said that about 25,000 people visit the Co-op every week and that it is a good opportunity to persuade them to change their lifestyle for the better.
"Eating fast food, lack of physical activity and unhealthy behaviour as smoking and drinking are dangerous to health," he said.
Free tests
The health tent will be open for a week and the Sharjah Medical Zone will provide free of charge tests and consulations on the various health issues affecting the people.
The Ministry of Education will also provide free tests. The nutrition department at the Sharjah Ladies Club will also give advice on eating healthy and make people visiting the Co-op store aware of how to select healthy groceries and will monitor shopping patterns at the store to select the best three healthy shoppers.
In Dubai, the private sector is joining in and providing free health screening today. Four Welcare clinics will be open to the public and the checks will include blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI) tests, which will provide a general indication of an individual's overall health.
The tests will be available at Welcare Ambulatory Care Centre, Welcare Clinic Mirdif, Welcare Clinic Qusais and Emirates Diagnostic Clinic from 9am to 2pm. Free advice on physically active and healthy life will also be provided, by doctors, according to a statement.
The theme for this year's World Health Day is Urbanisation and Health, which calls on cities worldwide to open up their streets for health activities.
Do you go for regular checkups? Do you eat healthy food and exercise regularly? Are more people moving towards junk food nowadays? Why do you think so? Tell us
