The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs continues the health awareness and guidance programmes for the guests at its Iftar tents. According to an official statement from Awqaf, the programmes are held as part of its commitment to providing comprehensive support to fasting people during Ramadan. They are implemented in collaboration with Al Abeer Medical Centre to provide the necessary health guidance to fasting people with an aim to strengthen community partnerships, spread health awareness among workers and ensure their safety.
Mohammed Yaqoub al-Ali, Chairman of the Iftar Committee at Awqaf, said the tents are witnessing a large turnout of fasting people this year. Iftar tents set up at various locations across Qatar by Awqaf, are expected to receive more than 300,000 fasting people throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
The air-conditioned tents are open in labour dense areas as part of Awqaf’s Ifar Saem project, an official statement said. They are in Al Muraikh, Al Attiyah at Industrial Area, Thursday and Friday Market at Ain Khalid, New Central Market at Al Sailiya, Eid Prayer Ground at Al Rayyan, opposite to Old Al Wakra Market at Al Wakra, Othman Mosque at Al Khor and Eid Prayer Grounds at Bin Omran and Al Aziziya.
The tent at Industrial Area, according to al-Ali, receives 1,900 persons daily and hosts medical awareness programmes under the supervision of medical expert at Al Abeer Medical Centre. Al-Ali thanked the institution for its co-operation. “The doctor guided those fasting on the best health practices during fasting hours with a focus on educating those with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure on how to fast safely without endangering their health especially since most of them are workers who may be exposed to work pressures for long hours during the day while fasting,” he said.
The specialist also provided direct awareness and important health advice focusing on the most prominent symptoms some may experience while fasting such as dizziness, dehydration, low or high blood sugar and headaches. He also provided practical advice on how to deal with these problems and ways to prevent them.
The awareness programme also included important nutritional guidelines. The doctor advised those fasting to drink sufficient amounts of water between Iftar and Suhoor, eat balanced meals containing essential nutrients, and avoid excessive consumption of sugars and fats which can negatively impact health during fasting.
This health awareness programme was highly interactive among fasting workers, who inquired about the symptoms they experience during their fast. The doctor answered all of these questions and provided them with the necessary guidelines.
Al-Ali said Awqaf, through such programmes, looks to promote the concept of integrated health during Ramadan. “The role of Iftar tents goes beyond providing iftar meals but extends to include health awareness and education ensuring that fasting is safe and healthy for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to health complications,” he said, adding that Awqaf continues to implement more of these health awareness programs at various Ramadan Iftar tent locations with the aim of guiding fasting people to adopt healthy eating habits and behaviours.
