Officials of Maersk Oil Qatar, sponsor of the Schools Olympic Program 2013, with students.
DOHA: In a drive to keep the younger generation aware of important health issues and reduce the rate of diabetes in Qatar, the Maersk Oil Qatar is holding awareness events among students.
Maersk Oil Qatar, sponsor of the Schools Olympic Programme 2013 (SOP 2013) and member of the Action on Diabetes (AoD) partnership, is reaching out to students through the SOP 2013 programme. Speaking at the SPO 2013 opening ceremony, Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad Al Thani, Deputy Managing Director at Maersk Oil Qatar, highlighted the important role AoD will be playing during SOP 2013.
“The combined and long-term aim motivating and uniting each of the AoD partners is to help deliver the Emir’s vision of a healthy and prosperous Qatar, and support Qatari authorities to reduce the incidences of diabetes.
“SOP is a major annual sporting event which enables us to engage with Qatar’s youth and encourage and empower them with the necessary knowledge and tools to make healthy lifestyle choices.”
Even though the Qatari population is relatively young compared to the rest of the world, it has among the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world.
Through raising awareness of diabetes, with focus on motivating children to make real life-style changes, AoD hopes to make a difference not only to those who have diabetes, but also to prevent those at risk from developing it.
“Qatar is one of the wealthiest per-capita countries in the world, with a fast growing economy, due to the ongoing increased production in oil and its related industries” said Shiekh Mohamad Al Thani, the Director of the Supreme Council of Health.
AoD will reinforce the major theme of this year’s SOP 2013, ‘Sport and Integrity’ highlighting to children the connection between sports achievement and leading a healthy lifestyle based on the campaign’s four main lifestyle factors: Healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking and getting screened for diabetes on a regular basis. The Peninsula
