HAAD launches ‘Weqaya – Healthy Nutrition’ programme to improve knowledge on and accessibility of healthy food options

Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Director of Public Health and Research Division at HAAD said: “The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi is working to achieve its vision for ‘a healthier Abu Dhabi’ by applying the famous idiom ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ as one of the key pillars in the fulfilment of our shared vision. This strategy has worked wonders on programmes and initiatives that aim to raise awareness about how adopting a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of disease and raise the quality of life. With this initiative, we are looking at increasing the availability and accessibility of healthy food choices to the public.”

Supplementing the awareness raising activities, are the specialised health magazine, ‘Ghithaa Magazine’, and the bilingual website and a variety of mobile applications which will all provide relevant information about the initiative, including public information, events and competitions as well as healthy food-prep techniques and standards.

According to HAAD statistics, the proportion of deaths from cardiovascular diseases accounted for 36.7% of all deaths in Abu Dhabi in 2013 and were all linked to unhealthy lifestyles, obesity and diabetes. As the population ages, this percentage is forecasted to increase in the future.

Commenting on this matter, Dr. Al Hajri explained: “Simple things like walking briskly for 20 minutes a day, maintaining a healthy weight through minimising sugar, salt and fat intakes as well as refraining from unhealthy habits like smoking, can contribute to lowering one’s chances of developing chronic diseases – diseases that are ultimately linked to unhealthy lifestyles. We find that by making the right food choices, the individual’s quality of life will be greatly improved and make the overall community a healthier, happier one.”

Ahmed Hashim, General Manager of Pioneer Media Company and Editor of ‘Ghithaa Magazine’ commented on the magazine’s content, saying: “We have made efforts to tailor the Arabic edition’s appearance and content to include nutrition-related news updates such as top trending issues, investigations, data, studies, stories, cooking channels etc. The release of the weekly print edition will be launched in conjunction with a bilingual website all of which are unique additions to contribute health-related information that is relevant to the Abu Dhabi community.”

In 2013, HAAD launched the ‘Weqaya – Healthy Nutrition’ programme in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) with the aim to raise awareness about healthy food options by adding a ‘Weqaya’ logo next to pre-approved healthy menu items at restaurants. Similarly, HAAD worked closely with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) on implementing the same logo to label healthy food items at supermarkets which are low-fat, low-sodium and fibre-rich.

Furthermore, HAAD is cooperating with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and SEHA – on the ‘Eat Right and Get Active’ campaign - to improve kids’ eating habits and raise their physical activity levels, at every school across the capital.