Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First wins Qatar CSR Award
Dr. Saif Al-Hajari, CEO of the Qatar National Programme for Social Responsibility, with Ms. Nesreen Al-Rifai, WCM-Q Chief Communications, External Affairs and Development Officer, and Prof. Dr. Rana Sobh, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University.
The innovative Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First campaign has been selected as one of the winners of the prestigious Qatar CSR Awards 2023, taking top spot in the “Best CSR Initiative in the Health Sector” category.
The award recognizes the leadership role of Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First in improving the health of the local community and the campaign’s commitment to corporate social responsibility in Qatar. Your Health First is the flagship public health campaign of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar WCM-Q).
Held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the Qatar CSR Summit is hosted by Qatar University. The summit forms part of the Qatar CSR National Program, which is based upon a partnership of ministries, governmental and non-governmental bodies, multinationals and the business sector. The Qatar CSR Awards recognize organizations that have made special contributions to the community and to sustainable development goals. The event was attended by many senior dignitaries and executives from the government and business sectors.
The Qatar CSR Awards recognize organizations that have made special contributions to the community.
The award was presented at the Qatar CSR Awards Gala Dinner to WCM-Q’s Chief Communications, External Affairs and Development Officer, Nesreen Al-Rifai, whose Office of Communications is responsible for the conception and delivery of all Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First initiatives.
Ms. Al-Rifai said: “We are truly grateful that the work of Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First has been recognized with this wonderful award from Qatar CSR, which does so much to help inspire the community to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Sahtak Awalan exists to encourage and empower everyone in Qatar to stay fit, healthy and happy by adopting healthy lifestyles. With the support of our strategic partners we have been able to build a very effective campaign.”
Your Health First was launched in 2012 to educate the community about healthy living, sustainability, exercise and nutrition so that they can make informed choices about the food they consume and how to live healthily.
Key initiatives of Your Health First include ‘The Fitness Box’, an innovative new concept in health, launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality – Public Parks Department, and Khayr Qatarna, which has installed 16 largescale greenhouses at 14 schools across Qatar, producing many tons of fresh fruit and vegetables for distribution and teaching students about the environment, sustainability, food security, agriculture, healthy eating and commerce. All revenues from Khayr Qatarna are reinvested in the project.
YHF also offers a vast array of health information and resources to the community through multiple channels, such as social media and YouTube, a dedicated website, television and radio, health booths in malls, public events, school visits, community initiatives and traditional print media.
During the historic FIFA World Cup 2022, Your Health First took part in several high-profile events associated with the tournament. This included ‘Walk the Talk Doha,’ a community walk around Doha’s largest Fan Zone in Al Bidda Park, where Your Health First fitness instructors provide guided warm-up exercises to all participants. The event was staged by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar (MoPH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).
Another Your Health First initiative, the ‘One Goal’ program, joined Msheireb Downtown Doha’s World Cup activation zone, offering fans a variety of experiences, including immersive VR games, information about healthy lifestyles, and a walkthrough presentation of Khayr Qatarna.
YHF receives crucial support from its dedicated strategic partners, Qatar Foundation, The Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Municipality, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
