Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of Mubadala’s network of world-class healthcare providers, is set to kick off its Walking Challenge. The initiative will invite more than 48 national companies based in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to enlist 50 employees each to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps per day until ICLDC’s annual Walk in November 2018.
The challenge is part of the Centre’s award-winning public health awareness campaign Diabetes.Knowledge.Action. Aimed at promoting behavioural change through motivating employers to create a work culture that supports employees’ health and encourages them to be physically active, the Walking Challenge will officially launch on 17 April in Al Ain and 23 April in Abu Dhabi.
Participants will receive pedometers and report their monthly step counts from 1 May. ICLDC will present a prize to the person that takes the most steps each month and a trophy to the company that cumulatively collects the highest number of steps each month, and grand prizes to the overall highest-scoring walkers during the Walk in November.
Dr Safdar Naqvi, Executive & Medical Director at ICLDC, said: “Diabetes is a condition that affects almost 20 per cent of the UAE population. However, there are ways to reduce the risk. ICLDC works continually to raise awareness of this fact and help the community adopt a healthier lifestyle. The purpose of our annual Walking Challenge is to motivate people to take up regular physical activity. We are dedicated to caring for the holistic health and well-being of the local population of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and not just when they are visiting our Centre. We are therefore, immensely proud to host this inspiring and high-impact public health initiative.”
ICLDC regularly engages with the community to raise awareness of diabetes and related conditions, and promote a healthy lifestyle. With the support of Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and sister companies Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Healthpoint from the Mubadala network, the Centre holds the annual Walk as part of its Diabetes.Knowledge.Action campaign.
Last year’s 11thedition of the walkathon brought together thousands of UAE residents at the Yas Marina Circuit. The event also drew the participation of senior officials and other representatives of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Police, Ministry of Community Development, Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
