Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in collaboration with its partners, recently hosted a symposium to honour 57 primary care physicians from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) who successfully completed the internationally recognized obesity management certification program. This initiative was conducted in partnership with the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), reinforcing Qatar's commitment to improving obesity prevention and treatment.
According to Qatar News Agency, this ceremony precedes the official celebration of World Obesity Day on March 4, 2025. Led by the World Obesity Federation, the observance aims to raise awareness and promote collective action to prevent obesity. The theme for this year, "Change Systems, Healthier Lives," emphasizes the necessity for systemic reforms in healthcare, policy, food systems, and the built environment to combat obesity globally.
Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Al-Thani, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programs at MoPH and Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee, emphasized the urgent need for collective action in addressing obesity and its associated health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. "Obesity is not just an individual challenge. It is a societal issue that demands systemic change. True progress happens when governments, healthcare professionals, businesses, and communities unite to build healthier environments and empower individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices. Together, we can transform the future of health and well-being in Qatar and beyond." "When we change systems, we change lives. Let's work together to build a healthier, stronger future for all."
Dr. Samya Al Abdulla, Senior Consultant, Family Physician, and Executive Director of Operations at PHCC, congratulated the 57 primary care physicians who completed the six-month, CPD-accredited training delivered by QMI, HMC, in collaboration with MoPH and PHCC. She highlighted the pivotal role of primary care in obesity prevention, stating, "Through PHCC's screening and wellness programs, we bring high-quality obesity prevention and management services closer to the community, ensuring that care remains accessible and person-centered," she added.
Dr. Mohamed Aly Elsherif, Consultant in Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine at QMI, HMC, and Chair of the Scientific and Planning Committee, underscored the comprehensive nature of this six-month training initiative, the first of its kind in the Middle East and Gulf region. The program consists of three key phases: interactive workshops, in-depth online training for SCOPE certification, and hands-on clinical practice at QMI's National Obesity Treatment Centre and National Bariatric Centre. "This high-quality program ensures physicians acquire specialized expertise in obesity management, equipping them to improve community-based care. We are excited to work with this new cohort of trained professionals to raise the standard of care in the region," he stated.
Professor Abdul Badi Abou-Samra, Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee at MoPH and Director of QMI at HMC, reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to addressing obesity and diabetes through the National Health Strategy (NHS-3) 2024-2030. "The Action Plan for Obesity, Diabetes, and Modifiable Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases (ASCVD) sets strategic objectives to reduce obesity prevalence and Body Mass Index (BMI) levels. The plan also aims to expand screening efforts to reach 75 percent of the target population by 2030 and decrease the percentage of individuals with more than three risk factors to 30 percent through prevention and management programs," said Prof Abou-Samra. He further noted that the Obesity Management and Bariatric Care Certification is the first of 59 initiatives under the Action Plan, underscoring Qatar's proactive approach to combating obesity and related metabolic disorders.