Minister of Public Health Stresses Sport Day Reflects Wise Leadership's Concern for Citizens Health

Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari

HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari stated that the National Sport Day of the State of Qatar clearly demonstrates the great concern of the wise leadership for the health of citizens, as the State of Qatar is considered a pioneer in dedicating a day for sports as an official holiday, during which sports and movement activities are organized to achieve awareness of the importance of sports and its role in the lives of individuals and society.

In a statement on Tuesday, Her Excellency added that the National Sport Day reinforces the health message of the Ministry of Public Health, which seeks to involve the community to achieve the healthy future of the population, explaining that through the National Health Strategy, the focus is on health promotion and prevention as a strategic priority. The Ministry adopts many initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, and making it a daily behavior for community members for long healthy life.

Her Excellency explained that the country has provided facilities and means that encourage the practice of sports, such as playgrounds, pedestrian and bicycle paths, and public parks to encourage the practice of physical activities to be a system of life for members of society.

HE Minister of Health pointed out that the 2022 National Sport Day is characterized by the fact that it coincides with Qatar's preparations to organize the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Through the joint cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the World Health Organization, and the International Football Association (FIFA), the state seek to create a legacy of health and sports, where joint activities will be held to promote healthy lifestyles, health security, and physical and psychological safety during the tournament.

On the occasion of the National Sport Day, the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) organized on Tuesday, a walking march in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, while adhering to the requirements and guidelines for sports activities and events to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

The Ministry encourages employees and all residents to exercise on the Sport Day of this year individually or in the open air, while adhering to the prescribed health requirements and guidelines, embodying the vision of the Sport Day, and making physical activity a daily behavior for members of society for a healthy life.

The Ministry of Public Health issued a protocol for health care and public health measures for the National Sport Day which aims to guide the best ways to hold safe sports activities accompanying the Sport Day amid the pandemic COVID-19, and take effective public health measures to protect the health of participants, spectators and organizers by reducing the risk of the pandemic transmission before, during and after the activities.

QNA