Health Ministry sets up programme on Sports Day

Manama, Feb. 7 (BNA): Health Ministry has joined other parties in supporting the highly anticipated 2019 Bahrain Sports Day, scheduled on February 12. The event is organised for the third successive year by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) in an attempt to promote sport among the society as a healthy lifestyle. Representative of Health Ministry in the Organising Committee of the event Dr. Wafaa Sharbatly said the ministry is currently preparing its own programme to be presented on the sports day. She said the ministry’s decision was in line with the initiative of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa that employees in all ministries and government authorities are given a half-day off on the Sports Day to promote the Bahrain Sports Day festivities and its objectives. “The Ministry of Health has always been keen to spread awareness among the society through a set of programmes launched by our health centres and hospitals in an attempt to promote sport as a significant aspect of the people’s lives,” said Dr. Wafaa. She also noted that there is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence on the positive effects of sport and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. “The positive, direct effects of engaging in regular physical activity are particularly apparent in the prevention of several chronic diseases, including: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis,” she said. Dr. Wafaa said the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, and BOC President, has contributed significantly to launching programmes and initiatives that had a major impact on this particular event.