Sharjah Ladies Club fosters Ramadan values with inspiring lecture
Strengthening community bonds and engagement
Ms Doaa Al-Mehri, Director of Corporate Communications at Sharjah Ladies Club, highlighted the importance of such events, stating: 'Our goal is to enrich the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan, enhance member engagement, and contribute to a well-informed and cohesive community.'
To enhance the event's ambience, The Vegan Beauty, the bronze sponsor, and Riyami Events, the supporting sponsor, adorned the venue with Ramadan-themed décor, creating a serene and reflective environment.
A legacy of empowerment and wellness
Since its establishment in 1982, Sharjah Ladies Club has been at the forefront of empowering women and fostering a supportive environment. The club offers a wide range of cultural, recreational, and wellness activities, along with exclusive beauty, hospitality, and fitness services.
Recognised as a leader in health and wellbeing, Sharjah Ladies Club has secured the 'Health Hero' title for the fourth consecutive year at the Global Wellness Weekend. It remains the premier destination for women in the UAE, providing a safe and inspiring space for women and children.
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Middle East Eye
06-05-2025
- Middle East Eye
‘Death of a generation': Gaza infants battle starvation under deepening Israeli siege
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During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when some aid entered Gaza as part of the January ceasefire, the family managed to obtain a formula that Suwar could tolerate. 'While I was pregnant, there was no nutrition - no meat, no eggs, no dairy. There was nothing' - Najwa Aram, new mother For the first time, she began to gain weight, eventually reaching 4kg. But as the Muslim world prepared to celebrate Eid al-Fitr - the festival marking the end of the fasting month - Israel resumed the bombing and imposed a total blockade. Suwar's condition began to deteriorate again. The newborn showed signs of dehydration. Her mother rushed her to hospital, where they have remained since 8 April. Though her condition initially improved, by the third day she had developed intestinal flu, further exacerbated by the lack of formula, pushing her deeper into malnutrition. "Our financial situation is dire," said the anxious mother. Her husband was blinded by Israeli forces during the 2018 Great March of Return protests, and their home was destroyed in an Israeli air strike, leaving them displaced. Najwa Aram leans over the crib where her five month-old Suwar Ashour, who weighs less than three kilograms, is laying down as she is fed formula (MEE/Ahmed Aziz) Aram, like many Palestinians in Gaza, has been displaced multiple times during the devastating war. She now lives in a tent. Her only wish is for her child's survival and recovery. "God willing, they open the crossings and provide the formula she needs... I hope she gets better, returns to how she was and even stronger," she said. Ahmed al-Fara, director of the paediatric department at Nasser Hospital, where Suwar is receiving treatment, told MEE that nothing has entered the besieged enclave in the past two months. 'We're talking about 2.3 million people trapped in what has become a giant prison. Gaza is completely cut off from land, sea, and air,' he said. According to al-Fara, Gaza has been stripped of all viable food sources. Bakeries have shut down, prices in the private markets have soared due to dwindling supplies, and aid warehouses run by international organisations are now empty. Catastrophic food insecurity According to Fara, Gaza's population is now facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, classified as Phase Five on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which ranges from one (minimal) to five (catastrophe/famine). 'If the crossings remain closed and there is no international pressure on Israel to lift the siege, we are looking at the mass death of most children, women, and the elderly in Gaza - alongside much of the wider population,' he warned. The IPC is widely used by NGOs, charities, and aid agencies to assess food security and nutritional crises. Gaza, he noted, is now firmly in the worst category. 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He noted that 92 percent of children and breastfeeding mothers are experiencing severe malnutrition, 'posing a direct threat to their lives and development'. Since Israel broke the ceasefire six weeks ago, its military has killed more than 2,326 Palestinians, bringing the total number of deaths to at least 52,000 since October 2023, including over 15,000 children.
The National
30-04-2025
- The National
Science can change how people think to help society, conference hears
Behavioural science can be used by governments to guide decision-making, build good habits and tackle societal ills, some of the world's leading experts have said at an event in Abu Dhabi. At the inaugural Behavioural Exchange conference at NYU Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment, called for strategies that strengthen people's ability to adapt and lead. 'It's about building people who can function and thrive and lead when none of these paths exist,' she said in her opening speech. Speaking to The National, Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley Professor at Harvard Law School and co-author of the influential book Nudge, said governments and institutions can dramatically improve people's health and well-being through simple design choices that guide but never force better decisions. The concept behind nudge theory is to preserve freedom of choice while gently steering people towards beneficial outcomes. 'The idea is that it's possible to improve outcomes for people by nudging them without mandating anything,' he said. 'If you get information about allergens in food, you're being nudged to avoid those foods. If an airport offers clear directions to the gate or a prayer room, that's a nudge. If your printer defaults to double-sided, you're being nudged to use less paper.' Nudges, he explained, are built into everyday environments. They do not take away a person's autonomy and freedom of choice. Shops, for example, can encourage healthier diets simply by putting nutritious items at eye-level. 'All over the world, nations are using behavioural science to try to improve outcomes,' he said. 'In the UAE, there's extraordinary work being done to help people live longer, eat better, and stay safe.' Rasha Attar, director of the Behavioural Science Group, pointed to successes that demonstrated measurable change in the UAE. 'Some of our early wins that showed tangible and competent changes were in our collaboration with Nema, the national food loss initiative,' she said. 'We were able to decrease food loss across multiple different touch points and to show different stakeholders and new partners that, with simple low-cost nudges, we are able to change behaviours sustainably.' Ms Attar said the team is targeting a range of habits. 'Whether it's encouraging people to become more physically active, to be more aware of what kind of food they eat, to be healthier, these are all behaviours we love to see.' On whether simple nudges could shape long-term behaviour, she said: 'Absolutely, with the right choice, the right environment, but also the correct nudges that have been tailored to suit our particular audience? Absolutely.' She described a study implemented during Ramadan in the Emirates that focused on cutting food waste as people broke their fast, noting that it was cut by 15 per cent per diner after 'simple posters or cards with important messages about waste' were strategically located to raise awareness and trigger different behaviours. Professor David Halpern, president emeritus of the Behavioural Insights Team, said Abu Dhabi is becoming a global hub for this sort of research. 'The whole thing is bringing together leading thinkers, who try to understand human behaviour, with policymakers,' he said. Prof Halpern, often regarded as one of the pioneers of the nudge movement, said that understanding and influencing human behaviour is essential to solving today's most pressing public policy challenges, from obesity to savings habits to climate action. But nudges are only the beginning, with Prof Halpern emphasising that long-term change depends on creating new habits. 'A lot of our behaviour is driven from an almost automatic level of habit. So one of the challenges is for us to become more aware of our habits and what drives them, and that can be empowering for families or communities or countries,' he said. 'Ideally, what we're often trying to do is turn it into a new habit which sometimes even becomes part of our identity.' The conference is hosted by the Behavioural Insights Team and the Behavioural Science Group, in partnership with the Centre for Behavioural Institutional Design at NYU Abu Dhabi. Areas of discussion focus on applied behavioural sciences and how these insights can be used to aid international development, global education and change societal norms. It concludes on Thursday.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Zawya
Community wellbeing boosted by Daman and Pura collaboration
Abu Dhabi, UAE: The National Health Insurance Company – Daman, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, has honoured the winners and participants of the thirdseason of #RamadanWithDaman. This year's edition, powered by PureHealth's AI-enabled app Pura, set a new benchmark for community engagement, attracting a record number of participants. With over 877 million steps logged in Pura, the 2025 edition saw close to 10,000 participants from across the UAE join the movement to prioritise physical wellbeing during Ramadan. The initiative continued to champion inclusivity and gender balance, with over half of the participants being female, indicating the widespread appeal and reach of the campaign. The strong participation and steady engagement throughout the challenge highlighted a growing commitment to wellness and a health-conscious lifestyle across the UAE. At an awards ceremony at Daman's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Daman honoured the top achievers of this year's #RamadanWithDaman challenge with a range of prizes, including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Commenting on the success of the campaign, Khaled Ateeq Aldhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of Daman, said: 'We are proud to witness the widespread participation throughout the third season of #RamadanWithDaman. Encouraging nearly 10,000 individuals to get moving during a time of faith and reflection is a remarkable achievement. This year's success, driven by the innovative capabilities of Pura, reaffirms our commitment to fostering a healthier, more active community, supporting the UAE's national health agenda and the spirit of the UAE's Year of Community, which celebrates unity, wellbeing, and collective action. We are grateful to everyone who participated and contributed to this shared goal.' Since 2022, #RamadanWithDaman has stood as a testament to Daman's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its aim to cultivate a healthier community. The campaign will return next year, continuing its mission to encourage healthy living and strengthen community bonds. About National Health Insurance Company – Daman The National Health Insurance Company – Daman is the UAE's leading health insurer providing comprehensive health insurance solutions to over 3 million members in the UAE. Daman is a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 100+ hospitals, 300+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more. Daman, a pioneer in health care insurance, drives innovation through a combination of state-of-the-art technology and healthcare-related expertise offered by a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Members benefit from added value through unique offerings such as the disease management programmes. Daman provides a 24/7 customer call centre and medical services authorisation team who are in direct contact with Daman's network of over 3,000 medical facilities. The company also provides a diverse range of digital services that are unmatched in the UAE. Daman has set high standards in the health insurance industry and has been awarded a number of internationally recognised awards and quality-focused certifications. About PureHealth: PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 110+ hospitals, 316+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the Science of Longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. PureHealth's network comprises: SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE SEHA CLINICS - Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services Daman (The National Health Insurance Company) – The UAE's leading health insurer The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE Rafed – The UAE's largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi's first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) - the largest private healthcare provider in Greece and Cyprus PureCS - A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE's largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care To learn more, please visit
