PHCC marks World Health Day in 8 schools

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA THE Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) of Qatar on Sunday celebrated the World Health Day in eight schools in the country by offering advice and educational materials aimed at increasing awareness about the possible risks of unhealthy lifestyles.

Since high blood pressure (hypertension) was the theme of the World Health Day 2013, the PHCC focussed on the causes and risk factors of high blood pressure and ways to prevent it in its campaign.

The PHCC encouraged members of the community to get their blood pressures examined regularly, avoid tobacco use, do some physical activity regularly, maintain healthy body weight and reduce salt intake.

PHCC selected eight of its most active ‘Health Promotion Schools’ including four each of intermediate and secondary schools to launch the awareness campaign, which included presentations and educational sessions on the causes and consequences of hypertension and how a change in lifestyle can help improve the health of a patient with high blood pressure.

The school nurses also distributed flyers containing information about the disease and offered blood pressure check-up for the students and staff of the schools.

PHCC’s Health Promotion Manager Yousra Hammad, said: “Non-Communicable Diseases including High Blood Pressure are the major cause of death in Qatar, accounting for 51 percent of classified deaths in 2010.

“Eighty percent of non-communicable diseases can be prevented, principally by adopting healthier lifestyles”, Hammad added.

Ms Hammad urged people to learn and explore more about high blood pressure.

“World Health Day gives us an opportunity to promote physical health amongst community members. Our focus this year was on school students who represent 25 percent of the community but our ultimate aim is to encourage the whole community in Qatar to change behaviours that could have a negative impact on their health and to get their health checked regularly”, she concluded.

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