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YHF celebrates Qatar National Day

Thousands of people visit the installation at Darb Al Saai to see the new Your Health First virtual reality attractions and learn about healthy lifestyles.
Thousands of people visit the installation at Darb Al Saai to see the new Your Health First virtual reality attractions and learn about healthy lifestyles.

Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First has once again helped people celebrate Qatar National Day, providing an interactive installation that proves exercise can be fun.

The flagship health campaign of WCM-Q, Your Health First was invited to participate in the Darb Al Saai celebrations inside the Qatar Foundation tent for the fourth time, having attracted tens of thousands of people to in previous years.

This year, Sahtak Awalan showcased its new virtual reality sports machines, that both entertained visitors and encouraged them to take more exercise.

A virtual reality rowing machine allowed visitors to experience rowing on a river and lake, while the cycling machine offered them the chance to cycle along mountain roads or at a velodrome. Cross trainers gave them the chance to go up against previous participants to beat times or reps, and a giant snakes and ladders game gave the younger members of the family a chance to get involved.

The virtual reality exercise machines proved particularly popular with children.

Nesreen Al-Rifai, chief communications officer at WCM-Q, said: “Everyone at WCM-Q is extremely proud that we can contribute to the Qatar National Day festivities in such a positive way; helping the community to enjoy exercise and supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

“None of this would have been possible without the tremendous support of our strategic partners, Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Occidental Petroleum, ExxonMobil and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.”

Your Health First would not be possible without the incredible support of its strategic partners: Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Occidental Petroleum, ExxonMobil and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
The virtual reality exercise machines proved particularly popular with the schoolchildren who visited Darb Al Saai each morning.

Shahine Al Kuwari, of Al Hayat School, said he liked the virtual running machine the best.
The grade 4 student said: I like the running game the most because it’s good for your health.

To stay heathy at home, I don’t eat junk food and I eat lots of fruit like apples, bananas and oranges.”

Fares Salmi of the Palestinian School said of the Your Health First installation: “It’s amazing, we are able to have a lot of fun with lots of people and make new friends. I liked the virtual rowing the best and the cycling one was scary, it made you sweat a lot.
“To keep healthy at home and school we shouldn’t eat too much, we need to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and we should train a lot in the gym.”

Launched in 2012, WCM-Q’s Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First campaign is an educational outreach program that works to encourage and empower all members of the community in Qatar to live healthy, sustainable lifestyles, with a particular focus on young people. Its initiatives include Khayr Qatarna, Project Greenhouse, Yalla Natural and the Color Run.