Dubai health

Dubai’s first Community Health Festival is offering free activities 1 Comments

1

© ITP Images

 

• 
• Picture 1 of 2
• 

We’re all too aware of the toll Dubai life can take on our health. Bad diets, lack of exercise and stress are commonplace, with the Dubai Health Authority reporting that 17 per cent of UAE nationals aged between six and 16 are obese. It’s not just the locals – we’ve all heard of the ‘Dubai stone’, after all. And while most expats would admit they’re not as healthy here as they were at home, it can be hard to find the motivation to kick our unhealthy habits.

With this in mind, Dubai’s first ever Community Health Festival launches this weekend in an effort to encourage residents to be more proactive about their health. From free check-ups and exercise classes to discounted treatments and expert advice, the event aims to inspire Dubaians to look after ourselves that bit more.

Dr Ayesha Abdullah, senior vice president of Dubai Healthcare City, which is hosting the festival, says the goal is to combat the specific diseases that affect Dubai’s community, and promote a proactive approach to health. Dr Abdullah explains: ‘It’s encouraging individuals to be an active participant in their health, rather than a passive participant whereby they just go to the doctor when they’re sick, by which time it’s too late.’

Time for another scary fact: the World Health Organisation lists the UAE as number two in the world for prevalence of diabetes. But as Dr Abdullah points out, ‘The overwhelming majority of [these] diseases are preventable. It pays to invest time in educating people, so that they are empowered and have control over their own destiny.’ The festival aims to hand over that control by offering expert advice and information for free this weekend.

The festival will be split into various zones (family health, nutrition, women’s health, and so on) and there will be workshops, exercise classes and even healthy food to try. Here are just a few of the things on offer.