Sidra Launches Employee Health Program on Qatar National Sports Day

Doha, February 12 (QNA) - As the Qatar public gathered to celebrate Qatar National Sports Day for the second year, Sidra Medical and Research Center chose an initiative that will help make a difference in the lives of Sidra employees. Sidra took the opportunity provided by Qatar Sports Day to launch its new Wellness at Work program, Bil Afia. Bil Afia is a comprehensive program that consists of initiatives that will help Sidra employees improve general health and productivity, while creating a workplace culture focused on long-term wellbeing. Sidra employees also took part in a five-kilometer walk along Doha s Corniche on Sports Day and hosted employees and their families for a nutritious breakfast at the Sheraton. The aim of the program is to create a healthy path for employees by making fitness a priority at Sidra, listening to employees in order to empower them to succeed in improving their lifestyle, and maintaining overall corporate wellness. The name of the program Bil Afia literally means "in good health" in Arabic and is usually said to someone while they are eating or when they have finished a meal. Sidra Communications Project Director Khalid Al Mohannadi commented on the importance of health and helping employees create a sustainable path for improvement. "The idea of health and wellness is a bit of a buzzword right now, but it doesn t always have the substance behind it. At Sidra, we are serious about transforming the way people think about health and nutrition and Bil Afia is one step in this direction. Our participation in Qatar s National Sports Day is a matter of great pride and is an extension of our mission to nurture the health and wellness of women and children, regionally and globally." Bil Afia s motto is simple: Eat Well, Live Well, Be well for yourself and for others. The name was selected because the program will have a significant emphasis on nutrition. This will be supported by Sidra s Clinical Nutrition department, which will offer regular educational sessions, weekly nutrition and diet counseling sessions, and work in close coordination with the cafeteria to provide healthy food options for employees, among many other activities. "Sports Day was an ideal opportunity to launch Bil Afia, as the beginning of the year is a meaningful milestone to reflect back on personal health goals. By choosing a local name for the program, we will generate interest right from the start that will go to the heart of the program s objective," said Shefa Ali, Head of Healthcare Marketing for Sidra. The program dovetails with Sidra s mission as an academic medical center that will provide the people of Qatar and the region with access to world-class health care and a healing environment to support health and wellbeing. It was launched and the logo was revealed during a breakfast that concluded Sidra s sports day activities.(QNA)