NMC Healthcare Walkathon 2018

Hundreds walk to raise awareness about Diabetes at NMC Walkathon 2018

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. 2,000 participants let their legs do the talking as they joined NMC’s Walkathon yesterday.

Organised by NMC Royal Medical Center, Ras Al Khaimah in association with RAK Police and Public services department, UAE residents turned out in their droves in Ras Al Khaimah to show their support for the NMC Walkathon, an extremely worthy initiative which aims to raise awareness about diabetes, the ‘silent killer.’

NMC’s COO Michael Davis was delighted that the event drew so many people to join the cause. “I am so pleased that our first ever NMC Diabetes Walk in Ras Al Khaimah was a huge success,” he said, before going on to explain why healthy living events such as these are so necessary.

“Type-2 diabetes is a global healthcare crisis effecting approximately 25 percent of the people living in the UAE.  Many people think we have to spend hours per day in the gym to reap the benefits of exercise. The real truth is that maintaining an active lifestyle and a well-balanced diet is an effective way to combat adult onset diabetes.  Almost 2,000 people from RAK and the surrounding emirates showed up to our event to pledge their commitment to a healthy lifestyle.  On behalf of Prasanth Manghat, CEO of NMC Health and the entire NMC Leadership team I'd like to thank everyone who participated and supported this wonderful cause."

Brigadier Ghanem Ahmed Al Ghanem Director General of  RAK Police was equally grateful for both the success of the walkathon as well as the collaboration with NMC Royal Medical Center, telling attendees: “We appreciate both the support from NMC and the way in which this leading healthcare provider is raising awareness of important health issues such as diabetes for the benefit of RAK residents as well as the UAE as a whole. The significance of initiatives such as this, which engage the community and help to spread awareness on life-threatening illnesses, should not be underestimated.”

With this year’s theme: “Diabetes Concerns every Family,” the walkathon aimed to drive the message home that adoption of a healthy lifestyle is vital in preventing and managing diabetes – for people of all ages. Awareness and education are key; currently less than one in two people diagnosed with diabetes and one in four family members of people living with diabetes have access to diabetes education programmes.

Killing more people worldwide than Aids and cancer combined, there are more than 1 million people living with diabetes in the UAE, placing the country 15th worldwide for age-adjusted comparative prevalence. 

With diabetes the leading cause of heart disease, strokes, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation, 80 percent of cases of Type 2 Diabetes could be prevented through healthier ways of living with the overriding message of NMC Walkathon being: a brisk walk every day can keep diabetes away.