Diabetes education programme across schools

As part of the initiative, which will later by extended across 29 schools in Dubai, 500 school students from Nad Al Hammar school were educated about diabetes, the main reasons for developing it and how to protect oneself from such lifestyle diseases which are primarily caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise.

Dr Ahmad Kalban, CEO of Primary Healthcare at the DHA, said, "There is a need to ensure regular reinforcement of the ill-effects of junk food and processed sugars, especially among our youth. They are at an age, where they can form either good or bad lifestyle and eating patters, which will carry on as they enter into adulthood. Thus, it is important to shape their thinking and habits at this age, so that our future generation is healthy. This is extremely important, given the high prevalence of diabetes in the UAE and this region."

As part of this initiative, the school students participated in several educational and sports programmes.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman, Director of the Princess Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education & School Sports, said, "We are pleased to partner with the DHA for this initiative. Educating our youth about lifestyle diseases, especially diabetes is very importance, due to the high percentage of the UAE population that is either diabetic or pre-diabetic."

Following the success of this initiative, the educational programme will be extended across 29 schools in the Emirate of Dubai.