Showing posts with label uae. Show all posts

Sunday, April 28, 2013

LIFESTYLE AND NEWS - New cycle tracks in Dubai: RTA planning cycling routes for 11 neighbourhoods - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dh40 million project to be completed by 2016

Dubai: Cycling enthusiasts in Dubai are in for a treat as projects to build new tracks across 11 locations in the city have been launched, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.

The announcement from RTA comes close on the heels of opening a 75-km long Dubai Cycling Course in Seih Assalam, part of a cycling master plan that includes a 25km track in Jumeirah as well as smaller tracks near Mall of the Emirates, Al Mamzar Park and Al Mizhar Park.

Apart from these tracks, RTA is currently constructing a 4.5-km-long track in the central district of Bur Dubai, and has completed the designs of four tracks linking Jumeirah Road with four Metro stations on Shaikh Zayed Road. Additionally, the authority has completed the construction of 1,400 bike racks around all Metro stations.

Following the successful implementation of the first phase of the cycling master plan, RTA has now approved construction of cycling tracks in 11 residential areas stretching 52km at a cost of Dh40 million.

“The construction of the cycling tracks is part of a master plan developed by RTA to provide dedicated cycling spaces across the entire Dubai emirate in a bid to encourage the use of bikes as an environment-friendly transit means, as well as for the benefit of cycling enthusiasts,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA.

Work on the new cycling tracks will begin this year and will be completed by 2016.

Residential areas like Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa, Al Quoz, Al Safouh Road, Al Mamzar Park, Mushrif Park, Hor Al Anz East, and Mirdif, have been selected for the project.

Al Tayer said the areas were selected based on various parameters including their popularity with tourists and their aesthetic nature. The areas are also frequented by cyclists and serve the Metro and public transport stations.

“The design of the tracks has been tailored to ensure the security and safety of bikers and the locations have been selected keeping in mind the convenience of residents and visitors to the areas, suitability of the site, traffic safety, and the appeal to pedestrians,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer said that since 2008 RTA has developed a Cycling Master Plan that included charting routes for bikes within the rights-of-way as well as separate lanes.

The Plan detailed the specifications and standards of separating cycling tracks from pedestrian pathways, and addressed the intersection points with cycling tracks, provision of biking racks in general and at the public transport stations in particular, cycling lanes in entertainment areas, materials to be used in the construction of cycling tracks, and signage for bikes and tracks.

So far the biggest of the cycling projects constructed by the RTA has been the 75-km-long Dubai Cycling Course. The first part of this course stretching 18km alongside Al Qudra Road North was opened in January. The second part of the course, which was opened in March, stretches about 49km, starting from the front of Bab Al Shams Hotel up to Al Qudra Road roundabout, then turns southward alongside the road leading to Seih Assalam.

The course includes public utilities and shops for hiring bikes, gear and accessories in addition to a medical clinic.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

HEALTH - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Fight against child obesity continues in the UAE

Nearly one third of children are obese or overweight, and junk food is to blame

Dr Liza M Thomas of the Canadian Specialist Hospital with schoolchildren from across Dubai, during an antiobesity presentation.

Dubai: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the UAE with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and a host of obesity-related medical conditions.

With nearly a third of children either obese or overweight, government and local hospitals are shoring up efforts to tackle the obesity rate.

The latest anti-obesity campaign titled ‘Act Now’ was launched Monday by the Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH).

Aimed at kids, the ongoing campaign discusses prevention, causes, health risks and solutions.
Health authorities, medical professionals, and parents are concerned.
This week, the UAE was listed seventh on the Global Fat Scale among 177 countries, calculated using UN data on population size and estimates of global weight from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Last year’s figures from a nationwide survey of Emirati and expatriate schoolchildren by the Ministry of Health (MoH) stated that 15.5 per cent are obese, 39.2 per cent are overweight and a worrying 21 per cent had fast food three times or more a day.

“The rate hasn’t lowered. There are more than 30 per cent of UAE kids are who obese,” said Dr Liza Thomas, Specialist Internal Medicine, CSH, speaking to Gulf News.

“The statistics are alarming,” said Dr Ali Reza Eghtedari, Consultant Surgeon and Head of Laparoscopic and Obesity Speciality Clinic at CHS.

He told Gulf News that obese children, some as young as eight years old, are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

“The harmful effects of obesity among children are evident early on. These can range from diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol.

“I know of young obese patients who have both diabetes and hypertension — fatal for the kidney. If obesity rates aren’t checked, these children will grown up to be unhealthy adults with several medical complications,” he said.

The leading cause of obesity is the availability of junk food and lack of parental involvement in making health a priority, said Dr Thomas.

She explained that parents find it more convenient to visit a fast food outlet then to prepare a healthy meal at home.

She highlighted the role of parents in preventing obesity. She said parents should be role models first. “When children watch their parents eat healthy, they will also emulate them. The learning starts at home and progresses at school and community levels.”

Gulf News also spoke to parents and children to learn of their attitudes towards their health.
Jenny Akiki, mother of Adriana, 10, and two-month-old Eva said being a good role model is the only way to convince your kid to adopt the same lifestyle.

“If my kids see me eating burgers and fries, they will surely not want the broccoli and carrots I give them.”

Akiki prepares Adriana’s meals, including her school lunch box. “I am not convinced of how healthy the school canteen food is so I prefer to cook her meals. Junk food is allowed only on rare occasions.”
Parul Soparkar, grandfather of Aanya, four, said that health is a top priority at the household, and that corrective eating behaviours have to start young. “Aanya is a fussy eater, but has to learn to eat all the food that is good for her.”

Jack Simpson, 12, and Megan Valk, 14, are both students at Dubai English Speaking School (DESS). While they lead active lives, a few of their peers need to change their current lifestyle.

Simpson said, “I have a friend who eats two to three donuts at a time, and enjoys food from fast food outlets. He is trying to lose weight now after realising that he cannot run as fast.”

Valk said, “I have a few friends who do not participate in activities outside of PE [physical education], but they are conscious about their weight. To lose weight, they tend to skip their meals at school knowing that they wouldn’t be allowed to do the same at home.”

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

EDUCATION - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Students should be provided nutritious food: Mohammed

Healthy young minds require good nutrition, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said a sound nutritional system must be implemented in schools to prevent the spread of diseases among students and to contain lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

Shaikh Mohammed was on a visit to the Ministry of Education in Dubai on Monday and reiterated Arabic must be taught to students to retain ‘‘our national identity and Arabic culture as well as our religion’’.

Shaikh Mohammed with students and officials at the Ministry of Education office in Dubai. — Wam

He said science, technology, health and sport would promote overall development of students, following the directives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Tweeting about his visit, Shaikh Mohammed said: ‘‘Every academic year must be better than the previous one. We cannot progress if the next generation is not better than the current one.’’
He also telephoned UAE toppers of Grade 12 exams and congratulated them on their achievements and wished them the best for the future.
“You are a pride to our society,” he told Huda Ahli, 18, a UAE national and resident in Mirdif, who scored 99.8 per cent to top in Arts.
Accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, he later reviewed plans for the academic year 2012-2013.
Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami spoke of steps taken to ensure the smooth operation of the educational system at schools across the country. Al Qattami also touched on a number of initiatives launched by the Ministry of Education, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Smart Learning .
On the smart learning project, Shaikh Mohammed tweeted: ‘‘I also observed the progress of the 5-years smart learning initiative.
It shall bring fundamental changes to the education infrastructure.’’
He commended the efforts of teachers and adminstrators. ‘‘I wanted also to thank all the schoolteachers & the administrators for their continuous efforts with our students during the academic year,’’ he said in another tweet.
Shaikh Mohammed was presented a painting of himself and his father Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum during the visit.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education announced the 10 toppers in both Arts and Science groups. As many as 25,000 Grade 12 students, who had earlier registered on the MoE’s website, were informed of the results by email on Monday.
news@khaleejtimes.com