Manama: Hundreds of worshippers attending prayers at the Grand Mosque in the Qatari capital Doha were given a diabetes screening recently.
The screening was conducted by Action on Diabetes, a public-private partnership initiated and funded by Maersk Oil Qatar, with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
Organisers said that with attendance for prayers at mosques increasing during Ramadan, the programme presented an ideal opportunity to screen the local community for diabetes, help people understand its risks as well as provide advice on managing the condition and eating healthily during Ramadan.
Following the prayers, 25 screening booths staffed by trained diabetes nurses and educators were set up in the entrance hallway of the Imam Mohammad Bin Abdul Wahab mosque. More than 1,000 worshippers visited the booths to get screened and receive a personalised analysis of results. The Grand Mosque was particularly busy with many people attending prayers.
The trained diabetes educators also provided recommendations on how to fast safely during Ramadan and reduce the risk of developing diabetes in the future. Brochures and educational information were also distributed to provide people with vital information on diabetes, the importance of early detection and tips on living a healthy lifestyle.
The screening event will be repeated again on July 10, providing another opportunity to deliver vital screening to large numbers of people.
“At HMC, we are committed to both taking all necessary steps to prevent diabetes and to helping those living with the disease to manage it and minimise the risk of developing dangerous diabetes complications,” Professor Abdul Badi Abu-Samra, Chairman of Internal Medicine at HMC, said. “Screening programmes like this one play a hugely important role in raising awareness and educating people about the condition. We’re extremely pleased with the success of this programme and of our close partnership with Action on Diabetes. We look forward to delivering similar events in the future.”
Ahmad Al Kuwari, Technical Liaison Manager at Maersk Oil Qatar, expressed the company’s pride as a partner of Action on Diabetes.
“We are committed to playing a role in combating one of the most prevalent health issues in Qatar,” he said. “This screening programme at the Grand Mosque continues the success of our previous partnerships and screening activities that have taken place during Ramadan. We are committed to playing our part in raising awareness and educating the community on diabetes and helping reach as many people as possible through our initiatives.”
This year’s programme is one of several education, awareness and screening programmes led by Action on Diabetes — a public-private partnership set up in Qatar by Maersk Oil Qatar, Qatari health authorities and Novo Nordisk, a leader in diabetes care — that will take place during Ramadan.
“We are delighted that the screenings at the Grand Mosque have been a great success,” Herluf Nis Thomsen, Action on Diabetes Programme Manager, said. “Early detection is of vital importance in the prevention and management of diabetes and such screening activities are hugely important in increasing people’s knowledge and spreading awareness about diabetes.”
