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Juvenile diabetes on the rise

Currently, 35 children with diabetes are enrolled in government schools while 67 are part of private schools in the emirate.

Officials from Ajman Medical Zone and Ajman Education Zone said the number of diabetic school children had increased over the years due to an unhealthy, high calorie diet and lack of physical activity. The pilot project is initially being launched in seven public and private schools across the emirate.

A detailed guidebook on how to deal with diabetic cases has also been issued for parents, caregivers, teachers and school nurses.

Director of Ajman Medical Zone, Hamad Al Shamsi said the launch was an effective and important partnership between health and educational institutions.

“This agreement aims to define causes and symptoms of diabetes and its complications as well,” explained Al Shamsi.

He said the aim was to raise public awareness and highlight the seriousness of the disease among the high school students by encouraging them to change lifestyle and poor eating behaviours.

“Everyone is aware that diabetes has become a serious challenge in the UAE,” he said, adding that preventive programmes before treatment are the need of the hour.

He said youngsters were eating more and more fast foods that are high in calorie and low in nutritional value.

“This makes it imperative for health institutions to develop plans and programmes to spread health awareness among the young,” added Al Shamsi. The campaign is being headed by Aisha Reyaysa, Health Director of Mushairef Centre.

Similar plans have already been launched in other schools across Dubai under the National Diabetic Strategy. Children have been provided with pedometers to assess their daily physical activity plans while others have been taught how to self-inject insulin in case of emergency. -asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com