Over 500 examined during health drive in Oman

Energy Monday 19/February/2018 22:30 PM
By: Times News Service
Over 500 examined during health drive in Oman

Muscat: Over 500 people were tested for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the first day of the health diagnostic campaign organised at Jalan Bani Bu Ali Hospital.
The theme of the event, organised by the General Directorate of Health Services in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, was “Check today to be safe for ever”. The campaign will continue until March 3.
The campaign targets people in the age group of 30 and above and includes all health centres in the regions and villages of the state to combat NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart disease, by promoting early diagnosis and awareness.
The programme has been divided into two categories. People aged between 30 and 39 are being tested for diabetes, blood pressure, and body mass weight. People above 40 years are being tested for diabetes, blood pressure, body mass, cholesterol, kidney function, and albuminoid.
The campaign is aimed at reaching the largest number of people throughout the states and villages of the governorate to prevent the spread of non-communicable and chronic diseases and to intervene in such cases quickly.
According to the NCD survey carried out by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, more than 60 per cent of Omanis suffer from obesity, while nearly one-third of society suffers from high blood pressure.
Also, one in every six citizens has diabetes and about half of Omanis do not exercise enough, data indicated. In addition, one out of every five people in Oman dies early, between 30 and 69 years, due to NCDs.
The tests do not take more than 30 minutes. Aisha Al Hashmi, senior staff nurse at Jalan Health Centre, said: “The campaign aims to encourage young people to discover the existence of risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes, and work to prevent them.”
and raise awareness regarding the risks of non-communicable chronic diseases and complications, and the need to treat them.”
A healthy lifestyle, increased physical activity, balanced nutrition, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking are some of the ways in which these diseases can be prevented.
A number of activities are being carried out as part of the campaign, including visits to schools and a number of official institutions and through sports. The health centres involved in the campaign are Jalan Health Center and the health center of Al-Khuwaymah, Al-Ashkharah, Asilah, Suweih and Al-Rais, and Dar Altub Medical Specialist Complex.