UAE Ministry of Health to launch heat exhaustion prevention campaign in Sharjah

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced it will launch next Monday a heat exhaustion prevention campaign in Sharjah.

Themed "Your safety is our goal", the campaign aims to bolster health awareness about the risks associated with extreme heat among all members of society and promote preventive measures within community groups who are most exposed to sunlight.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the headquarters of Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA).

The event, a joint effort by the Ministry's representative office in Sharjah and SCFA’s Health Promotion Department (HPD), included participants from various public and private bodies in Sharjah.

These feature Sharjah Police, Sharjah Public Health Center operating under the umbral of Emirates Health Services and Labour Standards Development Authority.

This is in addition to Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah's Municipalities, Sharjah Charity International, Sharjah Cooperative Society, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (SBA), Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority, Fast Building Contractors, Souq Al Jubail, Zulal Water Factory, and the Emirates Red Crescent Authority.

The event was attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Zarouni, Director of MoHAP’s Representative Office in Sharjah, and Iman Rashid Saif, Director of SCFA’s Health Promotion Department, as well as Zainab Jasim Sajwani Head of Partnerships Division at HPD, along with representatives from various government and private entities participating in the campaign.

Field tours & awareness lectures

Scheduled to run throughout the summer, the campaign involves field tours to construction sites and awareness lectures to impart health information to various societal segments and all nationalities.

It aims to promote correct behaviours, enhance understanding of heat exhaustion health risks, and emphasise the importance of maintaining a safe work environment.

To further support the campaign's objectives, the accompanying medical team will provide assistance and supplies to the targeted groups at their workplaces, where they will be introduced to the risks of heat exhaustion, its symptoms, preventive measures, and first aid procedures.

Workers will also receive awareness booklets in Arabic, English, and Urdu, personal hygiene, and fire prevention supplies, as well as access to medical examinations such as blood pressure and blood sugar level checks and oral and dental health detection tests.

Community service collective responsibility

Emphasising the significance of MoHAP’s campaign, Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director of MoHAP's Representative Office in Sharjah, said: "The Ministry is committed to promoting the values of generosity and goodwill upon which the UAE was built.

“This year, we will be launching the 12th annual heat exhaustion prevention campaign in collaboration with various governmental, private, and charitable organisations to safeguard community health and safety by increasing health awareness across all sectors, particularly among those whose work involves prolonged exposure to sunlight and educating them on the risks of heat exhaustion.”

Al Zarouni further stated, "Community service is a collective responsibility shared by all government and private entities, institutions, and individuals.

“We are united in our aim to promote happiness across all societal groups and encourage healthy behaviours amongst all members. Hence, we will spare no effort to provide valuable information, guidance, and preventive measures."

For her part, Iman Rashid Saif, Director of the Health Promotion Department, expressed her happiness at the Department's participation in the campaigns. "We take immense pride in being part of the UAE, a nation that values human beings as its most precious asset, placing the health and safety of society at the forefront of its development priorities," Saif said.

She emphasized the importance of protecting the worker population, stressing the need to safeguard them from diseases and equip them with the requisite awareness.

Saif emphasized that the department's goal is to ascertain the health requirements of workers and launch suitable awareness programs accordingly following the insightful vision of Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah.

Sheikha Jawaher's guidance significantly bolsters Sharjah's efforts to elevate health awareness, and encourages community members to adopt healthy habits, thereby contributing to their overall well-being and safety.