Dubai Health Authority participates in Dubai Marathon.

• Director-General of the DHA leads the 4 k run for DHA employees.
• More than 1,500 DHA employees took part in the marathon, which is largest participation from a government organization in a sporting event in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 23, 2015: The Dubai Health Authority(DHA) took part today in the Dubai Marathon.

More than 1,500 DHA employees took part in the marathon, which is largest participation from a government organization in a sporting event in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

HE Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, who led his team in the 4k run, said: “The idea behind this event is to get the medical fraternity together so that they can be role models and advocate the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Such events provide us with a platform to raise awareness about the importance of exercise and nutrition. We hope that we can encourage the community to exercise regularly, even after the marathon is over.”

Al Maidoor who is an avid sports enthusiast said it is unfortunate that people do not find 30 minutes in a day for themselves so that they can take part in any sport or exercise.

Dr Moin Fikree, medical director of the Trauma Centre, Rashid Hospital said that there are several parks, jogging tracks and beaches in Dubai where people can take part in outdoor activities during the winter months.

He said: “We are pleased to see that in the last few years such sporting events are gaining popularity in the UAE .Dubai now offers several jogging tracks, dedicated cycling tracks and we urge people to make use of these facilities in the cooler months.  Research shows that 30 minutes, in fact even 20 minutes of brisk walking, five times a week, helps lead a healthy life. Such a simple form of exercise when done regularly helps people live longer, enjoy a better quality of life, feel better, sleep better and live better.”

Dr G. Y. Naroo, consultant in emergency medicine at Rashid Hospital’s Trauma Centre, who took part in the 42 km run along with his 30 colleagues, said: “ Compared to last year, this year the participation and fitness levels of DHA participants in the marathon has improved drastically. For instance, last year, 74 medics took part in the 10K run, this year the number has increased to 443 medics.”

Talking about the link between inactivity and lifestyle diseases, he said: “When we see patients that are brought in for emergency cases such as heart attacks, more often than not, these patients have one or more lifestyle disease such as obesity, hypertension etc. which is a trigger for cardiovascular disease.  The irony is that unlike genetic predisposition to CVD, all other lifestyle diseases are preventable and modifiable and yet we see young people dying of heart attacks. There is a direct link between expanding waist lines and these illnesses, therefore, it is time to educate our youth to lead active lifestyles and as the health authority for the emirate of Dubai, we feel, it was important for us to spread this message through our participation in such an important sporting event.”

He said heart attacks take place 10 years earlier in this region compared to many western countries, strokes take place at least 20 years earlier in the UAE as compared to many other countries. “These statistics reveal the need for urgent change in lifestyle patterns among the UAE population.”
At the DHA stand, several brochures and educational materials were available about healthy foods and ways to lead a healthy lifestyle.