Educational tool for kids with Type 1 diabetes launched

Doha: A new educational tool, ‘Health Park with Salem and Sarah,’ was introduced in Doha on Monday to support children living with Type 1 diabetes in Qatar and the region.

It will be distributed among more than 1,200 children living with Type 1 diabetes in Qatar and those who will participate in the Diabetes Association (QDA)’s Al Bawasil Camp for children with diabetes.

‘Health Park with Salem and Sarah’ was launched to coincide with the World Diabetes Day by Sasol, the international integrated chemicals and energy company, and QDA, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education.

“We developed these games for kids with Type 1 diabetes, with which they can play and also get a powerful message about healthy food, exercise and how to test blood sugar. It’s a very good tool and we hope to distribute it to all children with Type 1 diabetes in Qatar and also distribute it at the Al Bawasil Camp where children will come from other Gulf countries,” said Dr Abdulla Al Hamaq, Executive Director, QDA.

Three new board games and the official Salem and Sarah costume mascots were previewed at an event held at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel, in the presence of children with diabetes with their families.

The educational board game with the characters Salem and Sarah includes three different games: Health Park with Salem and Sarah, Slides and Ladders and Match-up game. These games help children with diabetes and their families about food items that affect blood sugar and on facts that help healthy behaviour of people with Type 1 diabetes.

Phinda Vilakazi, President of GTL Ventures at Sasol, said: “Diabetes is a life-threatening condition that is affecting a significant portion of the society. In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, Sasol is committed to building a healthy population by increasing the level of awareness and knowledge about diabetes in the country.” In 2015, around 452,000 people in the world had type 1 diabetes.