Ministry of Health Inks MoU with WCM-Q, Al Meera

Doha, April 12 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health signed Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and Al Meera Consumer Goods Company to launch a public health awareness campaign, with the aim of providing the public with a wide range of valuable nutrition information through posters displayed at a number of Al Meera branches across Qatar. The posters are intended to help consumers take informed decisions regarding their healthy and balanced diets. The MoU was signed by Dr. Saleh bin Ali Al-Marri from Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Javaid Sheikh, Dean, WCM-Q, represented at the ceremony by Nesreen Al-Rifai, Chief Communications Officer at WCM-Q; and Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera. "This MoU is part of our concerted efforts to promote public health awareness, especially as far as healthy diet is concerned, and the Ministry of Public Health attaches special importance to raising health awareness in the community in cooperation with all concerned partners," said Dr. Al-Marri. He added that the Qatar STEPS Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Survey 2012 showed that the majority of adult Qataris (91%) consumed less than five servings of fruits and/or vegetables on average per day, 45.9% of them had low physical activity, 41.4% of the respondents were obese and 70% were overweight. "These worrying numbers add to the importance of this crucial campaign which aligns with other important efforts, particularly the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan, part of the National Health Strategy," Dr. Al-Mari added. Dr. Al-Marri applauded the fruitful cooperation between MPH and WCM-Q which resulted in several initiatives, most important of which is Sahtak Awalan - Your Health First which has largely contributed to promoting health awareness amongst the different segments of the community in cooperation with other partners. He also commended the cooperation between MPH and the private sector to enhance public health awareness, with the fruitful cooperation with Al Meera setting a good example in this regard. "The MoU signed today will encourage the community to adopt healthy eating habits, and is part of MPHs efforts to promote healthy lifestyles that lower the risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer," said Sheikha Dr. Al-Anoud Bint Mohamed Al-Thani, Director of Health Protection and Non-communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Public Health (MPH). "In 2015 MPH released the Qatar Dietary Guidelines which offer valuable insights and guidance for healthy eating, including identifying the basic food items that have to be eaten on a daily basis as well as the items that have to be reduced as much as possible or avoided altogether. In addition, the Workplace Wellness Program (WWP) was rolled out across Qatar as another MPH initiative with the aim of encouraging employees of ministries, governmental and non-governmental organizations to adopt healthy lifestyles in their daily lives to avoid a wide range of diseases," said Dr. Al-Thani. "Sahtak Awalan" - Your Health First was launched in 2012 in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles in Qatar by encouraging the community to have balanced and healthy meals, amongst other goals. Today we are thrilled to sign a MoU with Al Meera Consumer Goods Company which will allow Sahtak Awalan and the Ministry of Public Health to prepare educational information in accordance with the Qatar Dietary Guidelines," said Nesreen Al-Rifai, Chief Communications Officer at WCM-Q. "Initially, shoppers at five of Al Meeras supermarkets will be able to read the nutritional information we provide as well as the advice provided by health educators from the Ministry of Public Health. The initiative will offer advice and enable families to shop for healthy foods. We are confident that this initiative will be beneficial to the community as it will enable them to start living a healthy life and create a healthier society, especially with the prevalence of diabetes and obesity," Al-Rifai added. Dr. Shahrad Taheri, Professor of Medicine at WCM-Q, and Assistant Dean for Clinical Investigations, said the Sahtak Awalan initiative would allow people to make informed choices. Dr. Taheri said: "Food labeling can sometimes be confusing so clear labeling that immediately tells you if a food is healthy or not is very important. It will empower shoppers and give them greater knowledge about what they are feeding themselves and their families." "Al Meera is committed to its role in social development, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, and thus is keen on supporting initiatives that aim to promote food safety and healthy eating habits," said Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera. Dr. Al Qahtani stressed the importance of the MoU and the cooperation of the concerned parties to spread health awareness in the country, saying that Al Meera contributes in spreading this message through its health awareness posters displayed at five of its branches as a first step, namely Legtaifiya, Gulf Mall, Al Wakra (South), Thakhira and Geant Hypermarket, with plans to roll out the program later at more branches. (QNA)