The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) launched a diabetes awareness campaign in all public schools, in celebration of World Diabetes Day, which falls on November 14th every year.

PHCC pointed out that diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among students in public schools in Qatar at all educational levels.

The head of School Health Department at PHCC, Dr Layla al-Dahnaim said recent technological and social developments and a change in lifestyles with low rates of sporting activities, kinetic practices and increased consumption of unhealthy foods have led to a rise in obesity, in addition to the emergence of cases of type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes have begun appearing in school students.

Al-Dahnaim said the School Health Department has provided all public schools with sufficient quantities of medical devices and supplies necessary to provide comprehensive nursing care for students with diabetes.

In co-operation with the diabetes and the endocrine team at Sidra Hospital, a comprehensive training workshop was provided to all school nurses on how to care for students with diabetes.

The head of School Health at PHCC indicated that a protocol has been prepared for providing healthcare for students suffering from diabetes through school nursing.

She stated that this protocol clarifies the mechanism of dealing with emergency cases in detail, such as how to deal with cases of severe hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and how to calculate the number of carbohydrates in meals that students can eat at school.

PHCC said that owing to the presence of a large number of students with diabetes who are treated using insulin pumps, it plans to hold a specialized training course for school nurses in co-operation with diabetes and the endocrine team at Sidra Hospital and the Qatar Diabetes Association.

The School Health Department of PHCC celebrates World Diabetes Day in all public schools in the country through the implementation of many awareness and educational activities and events in schools over three days.

The events include many targeted health activities, including awareness lectures for both students and staff, the distribution of educational pamphlets and brochures related to diabetes, the provision of a blood sugar test service for students and staff, and weight, height and body mass index measurements.