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Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH, WHO Regional Office host workshop on urban health
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised the 'Healthy Cities Workshop: Promoting Multisectoral Action and Monitoring Urban Wellbeing', in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHOROEM), at the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. The workshop is part of the joint efforts between the Ministry of Public Health and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to launch a long-term national dialogue on urban health. The workshop marks the beginning of a collaborative process that will evolve through the organisation of a number of workshops to address urban health challenges through multisectoral action. The event aims to foster an open dialogue among key stakeholders regarding the current status of implementing Healthy Cities in Qatar. It reviewed lessons learned from past efforts, highlighting ongoing successes, as well as identifying gaps and challenges. Participants discussed governance and coordination issues impacting multisectoral work and suggested possible improvements. The workshop began to conceptualise a national roadmap for Healthy Cities that aligns with Qatar's public health, environmental, and development strategies. It will aimed to reintroduce and revitalise the Healthy Cities Network as a collaborative platform for action. The workshop continued to draw from regional experiences, including insights from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities in Saudi Arabia. In his opening speech, Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs Dr Saleh Ali Al Marri said, 'We are gathering now at such a pivotal moment, as Qatar continues its efforts to promote urban well-being, sustainability and healthy living environments for all. 'Qatar has exerted great efforts in improving the Healthy Cities Initiative over the past years, as our municipalities, Education City and Qatar University, have shown a firm commitment to promoting environments that prioritise health, equality and sustainability.' He stressed that the workshop represents the starting point for the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean's reassessment mission. It provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements, tackle ongoing challenges, and outline a path towards developing stronger and more integrated healthy cities in Qatar. Dr Al Marri added, 'I am confident that through open dialogue, exchange of experiences, and multi-sectoral cooperation, we will develop valuable visions and a renewed vision for the future in line with our national development strategies and Qatar National Vision 2030.' Dr Sadriya Al Kohji, chair of the Healthy Cities Network of Qatar, said: 'The workshop serves as a platform for brainstorming and reflection to explore the successes achieved through the Healthy Cities Programme in Qatar and how to overcome structural and operational barriers. The discussions and sessions of the workshop contribute to define strategic directions, promote alignment with national and sectoral strategies, and lay the foundation for a national roadmap for healthy cities that lasts until 2030.' Dr Kohji added, 'The workshop also contributes to a clearer understanding of governance and coordination challenges and mitigation options, while identifying priorities and gaps in monitoring and evaluation systems across municipalities and institutions, and identifying initial inputs towards a national roadmap and strategic priorities for healthy cities until 2030.' Najla Khaled Al Mulla, a member of the Healthy Cities Network at the Ministry of Municipality, said: 'Reactivating the Healthy Cities Network is an important step towards enhancing the health of the population and improving their quality of life, in order to achieve more sustainable and healthier cities.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Man, 21, Dies After Drinking 5 Bottles Of Neat Liquor Over Rs 10,000 Bet
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A 21-year-old man in Karnataka died after drinking five bottles of liquor to win a Rs 10,000 bet. Karthik fell critically ill and succumbed after hospitalisation. Police have arrested two of friends involved in the betting. Bengaluru: A 21-year-old man in Karnataka has died after he drank five bottles of liquor neat over a Rs 10,000 bet with his friends. Karthik had told his friends Venkata Reddy, Subramani, and three others that he could drink five full bottles of liquor without diluting alcohol with water. Venkata Reddy had told Karthik he would give him Rs 10,000 if he could do that. Karthik downed the five bottles but became critically ill soon after. He was admitted to a hospital at Mulbagal in Kolar district. He succumbed during treatment. Karthik was married for a year and his wife had delivered a child just eight days back. A police case has been filed at Nangali police station against six individuals, including Venkata Reddy and Subramani. Both have been arrested, and the cops are looking for the other accused. Nearly 2.6 million people die of alcohol consumption every year, accounting for 4.7 per cent of global deaths, according to the World Health Organization. According to the WHO, there is no "safe" level of alcohol consumption. "To identify a 'safe' level of alcohol consumption, valid scientific evidence would need to demonstrate that at and below a certain level, there is no risk of illness or injury associated with alcohol consumption. The new WHO statement clarifies: currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol 'switch on' and start to manifest in the human body. Moreover, there are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers," a 2023 report says. "We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn't matter how much you drink - the risk to the drinker's health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is - or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is," explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Sharjah 24
27-03-2025
- Health
- Sharjah 24
Combating obesity strategic health priority: MoHAP
The ministry also signed a landmark agreement with a renowned company to develop the national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control. To complement these efforts, training workshops were held to enhance staff skills and standardise protocols for early monitoring of obesity indicators. Combating obesity is a strategic priority for the UAE's health system The Ministry emphasised that combating obesity is a strategic priority for the UAE's health system. Following the government directives, the ministry is stepping up efforts to improve public well-being and raise awareness about the lasting impact obesity can have on individuals, families, and the wider community. As part of these efforts, health authorities continued to implement nationwide programmes that promote physical activity from an early age, support balanced nutrition in schools, and provide comprehensive care for women during pre-pregnancy and prenatal stages—all while fostering healthier dietary habits across the nation. Collaborated with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean The Ministry of Health and Prevention also collaborated with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to host two specialised workshops: 'Health-Promoting Schools' and 'Essentials of Effective Health Communication for Managing Childhood Obesity'. Both fall under the ministry's 'Comprehensive School Health' project, aimed at embedding health education into the fabric of school life. MoHAP has also signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf to launch the national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control, a fundamental part of the country's National Strategy for Preventing and Managing Non-communicable Diseases. Conducted a series of training workshops aimed at strengthening the competencies of school health personnel In parallel, the ministry conducted a series of training workshops aimed at strengthening the competencies of school health personnel. These sessions explored ways to enhance data accuracy and reliability and establish unified protocols for the collection and analysis of early obesity indicators among school-aged children nationwide. Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry, stressed that tackling obesity—especially among children—is one of the health sector's top priorities. 'We're working to build a society where healthy living becomes second nature by creating an environment that supports wellness at every level, through the combined efforts of individuals, policymakers, government and private institutions, the media, and even food producers. In addition, the ministry is collaborating with partners from the health and education sectors to develop a national guide for food and beverages provided in schools.' He stressed that health awareness must be integrated into everyday school life, highlighting ongoing efforts such as the health-Promoting Schools programme and the Masar Initiative, which aim to instil a culture of well-being among students, adolescents, and healthcare providers. In addition to these efforts, the ministry will continue to roll out public awareness campaigns as well as community-based initiatives throughout the year. The upcoming National Health and Nutrition Survey, Dr. Al Rand noted, will measure obesity rates among adults and children across the country—data that will help shape future health programmes and national strategies.
