DOHA: Eight students from Qatar University (QU) have suggested legislation and retail policies, among others, to combat diabetes in the country.
Omar Sherif Moustafa, Shahrier Rafiq, Menatalla Abdelkader, Soubiya Ansari and Bassant Hussein Okab from College of Medicine, and Tamara Mirza, Asma Jamil and Tayyiba Akbara Alshrif from College of Health Sciences presented a joint project to a panel of judges at the ‘Beat Diabetes’ event organised earlier this month in recognition of World Health Day, designated by World Health Organisation.
The proposal approaches diabetes from three important angles — nutrition, lifestyle and medicine — and suggests that the increasing incidence of the disease should be tackled with tools, including awareness campaigns, legislation and retail and school policies, among others.
The panel included Prof Marwan Abu Hijleh, Head, Basic Medical Sciences Department, and Prof Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa (both from College of Medicine); and Dr Hiba Bawadi, Associate Professor of Nutrition, and Dr Nasser Rizk, Professor of Physiology and Endocrinology (both from College of Health Sciences).
Prof Abu Hejleh said, “This activity is an example of the type of interdisciplinary and inter-professional work the recently established health cluster at Qatar University facilitates.
“Diabetes is a major public health concern in Qatar with over 239,000 reported cases in 2015. Some 415 million people across the world have diabetes, including more than 35.4 million in the Middle East and North Africa region. According to the International Diabetes Federation, by 2040 this figure will rise to 72.1 million. This is why it is important that all nations engage in a productive dialogue with schools, legislators and health policy organisations, including participation of higher education institutions like Qatar University, to address the threat.”
Student Alshrif said, “We had the opportunity to interact with experts and collaborate with students from other healthcare programmes which contributed to reinforcing our knowledge and skills. This showcases the health cluster’s mission to enhance interdisciplinary healthcare education and research and provide knowledge and experience to fulfil the needs of the Qatari society.”The Peninsula
