The Jeddah Health Affairs Department lunched a campaign and an expo against diabetes in Al-Sairafi Mall here on Tuesday night. The campaign, under the theme “Diabetes should not end the life of any children” would greatly benefit the people of Jeddah, Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of the Health Affairs Management said. Officials and doctors from Jeddah Health Affairs Management and Primary Health Care Department are participating in the event to talk the ways to avoid the disease. Doctors are also offering a thorough checkup on those willing to undergo the various tests. Free dietary charts will also be distributed for those suffering from diabetes. Besides, the campaign will have warning brochures and lectures to teach the people on ways to to deal with the disease. “Ministry of Health has directed the hospitals and polyclinics to receive all the citizens willing to undergo diabetes tests and blood pressure checks,” said Nuha Dashash, Assistant Director in Jeddah Health Affairs Management. The campaign will also hold many competitions among children to make them aware of this disease and ways to combat it. Several families at the exhibition said they were having a good time not only in enjoyment but also getting all the information about the disease. “I came here for shopping, but I discovered that they have an exhibition to make the people aware of diabetes,” said Hind Al-Hamoud, a Syrian housewife and a mother of three. “My children usually demand sweets and chocolates and I have no idea how to make them aware of this disease. So such a campaign will help me a lot in persuading them about the dangers of diabetes,” she said. Muna Abou-Rashed, another housewife, who listened to a lecture at the exhibition, said: “I had benefited from this lecture. They have shown me how to cook several sweet dishes without having much sugar,” she said.
