DOHA: Action on Diabetes (AoD) has screened over 200 students and employees at Qatar University (QU) and provided them with consultation in line with its efforts to encourage behaviour change and a healthier lifestyle in the local community.
The three-day campaign is part of AoD’s major workplace diabetes screening programme and marks QU’s participation in World Diabetes Day activities.
The AoD campaign aims to tackle diabetes in Qatar by educating members of the community and those at risk on contributing factors, and empower them to manage the condition and prevent it through early detection.
Students visited the screening bus on the campus at QU College of Arts and Sciences. A full range of testing equipment on board enabled screening of blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, body mass index and blood pressure.
The program was a public-private partnership initiated and funded by Maersk Oil Qatar.
Dr Asma Al Thani, Head, Department of Health and Sciences at the college, said, “It was great to see so many people visit the bus to get screened. We hope that everyone tested gained advice and support needed to make positive healthy changes to their change their lifestyles to prevent diabetes.
Sheikh Faisal Al Thani, Deputy Managing Director, Maersk Oil Qatar, said, “Early detection of diabetes is vital for properly managing the disease and preventing complications and we’re grateful to QU for playing a role in helping combat diabetes, one of Qatar’s greatest health challenges.”
Nurses and educators also provided recommendations on how to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
Those tested received a personalised analysis of their results, complete with colour-coded graphs showing their risk levels and recommendations to improve their score over time.
A diabetes health audit was provided to employers along with a final report which aggregated screening results with follow-up recommendations.
Herluf Nis Thomsen, Senior Project Manager, AoD, said, “We will continue to visit some of Qatar’s largest organisations this year and next to seed behaviour change among the local community and tackle diabetes together.”
The Peninsula
