This year marks the 10th anniversary of ‘Your Health First – Sahtak Awalan’, and over the last decade, the initiative has grown, both in terms of its scope, its profile, and its impact.
‘Your Health First - Sahtak Awalan’ is the flagship program of Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, a partner university of Qatar Foundation (QF).
Hamad S Al Shaiba, Sports Programming Specialist at QF, shared with The Peninsula, about a decade of ‘Your Health First - Sahtak Awalan’ and the initiative’s impact within the community.
QF, along with a number of other local entities, is a strategic partner of the initiative that aims to encourage people to lead healthy lives. The goal is to educate the community about healthy living, sustainability, exercise and nutrition so that they can make informed decisions about the foods they buy, the importance of a balanced diet, and the way they live their lives. The program is fully inclusive and targets at all segments of society – young and old, nationals and expatriates.
“Your Health First – Sahtak Awalan has evolved into a multifaceted public health campaign consisting of a variety of activities and initiatives that aim to educate the community about the importance of healthy choices and living an active life, create awareness about the need to make wellbeing a focus of our lives, and encourage positive behaviors from a young age,” said Al Shaiba.
The benefits of ‘Your Health First – Sahtak Awalan’ stretch beyond the sphere of health. Its programs and activities nurture skills and values that are beneficial in all aspects of life – such as interpersonal skills, decision-making and problem-solving abilities, creative thinking, mindfulness, and assertiveness.
This is how the initiative helps to foster behavioral change – the type of behavioural change which benefits both individuals and the community as a whole.
“We are seeing the positive effects of the program right here at QF. Last year, Khayr Qatarna – part of the Project: Greenhouse program – gifted state-of-art greenhouses to hundreds of schools across the country, including three at QF. These children are being tasked with growing their own food, which is helping highlight the importance of food security, environmental sustainability, and healthy eating,” said Al Shaiba.
“We also host the Torba Farmers Market in Education City, which runs throughout the winter months in EC’s Ceremonial Court and provides access to locally-grown food and homemade products, supporting agricultural and other food producers around the country,” he added.
Your Health First reflects QF’s commitment to promoting healthy and active lifestyles, and to emphasising that well-being is essential to a strong society and is something that everybody can engage with and make part of their lives.
QF’s focus on sport, wellbeing, active lifestyles, and fostering a healthy community aligns with a nationwide priority. QF’s own National Sport Day celebrations, which are open to all, aim to foster social engagement while showcasing the opportunities within Education City that everyone can enjoy.
“That’s because we are an accessible, inclusive organisation that welcomes people of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, and interests, and because community development, is at the heart of everything we do.”
“At QF, our aim is to effect positive change, and we believe this can be done through education, sharing knowledge, and providing opportunities for everyone. This includes the opportunity to enjoy sport and physical activity, and to join together as a community in building a healthier, more active nation. And as we mark our 25th year, we plan to ensure this commitment continues into the future,” said Al Shaiba.
“Behavioural change has always been a goal of Your Health First; our mission is to change unhealthy behaviours into healthy habits through education. Research found that following the introduction of Project
Greenhouse and Khayr Qatarna into schools, students’ habits have shifted towards healthier eating rituals,” he added.
Separately, Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, Professor of Healthcare Policy and Research at WCM-Q, said, “Growing your own food is empowering and it undoubtedly encourages children to taste the natural food they have grown.
Your Health First helps educate and influence people to make their more informed healthy choices and take control of their own health and that of their families.”
