Nation Wednesday, January 30, 2019 03

Advisory Council to participate in Awqaf inaugurates three new mosques Kuwait workshop QNA A delegation from the Ad- Doha visory (Shura) Council left Doha for Kuwait on Tuesday The Ministry of Awqaf and to participate in a regional Islamic Affairs has opened parliamentary workshop on three new mosques with resi- sustainable development and dences for the imams and the ways to activate the role of muezzins in Aba Al-hiran, Li- parliaments in supporting brethat and Al-Seej areas. national efforts. The mosques can accom- The delegation comprises modate about 1,400 worshi- Shura members Mohammed pers. The completion of the bin Mahdi al Ahbabi and mosques is part of the min- Dr Hind bint Abdulrahman istry’s plan to increase the al Muftah. number of mosques and de- Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has opened three new mosques at Aba Al-hiran, Librethat and Al-Seej. The mosques can accommodate about 1,400 worshipers. The workshop, organised velop them in all areas, and by the Arab Region Parlia- to keep pace with the urban as well. other amenities. rising the Holy Quran is also of the Ministry of Awqaf and tion with the competent au- mentarians Against Corrup- and population growth. Librethat mosque can ac- Al Seej Area mosque has attached to the mosque. Islamic Affairs is concerned thorities, taking into account tion organisation on January Aba Al-hiran mosque has commodate about 268 wor- a main hall for prayers that The three mosques in- with identifying the needs of the requirements of green 30 and 31, aims to highlight a main hall for prayers and shipers with a main hall for can accommodate 500 men clude ablution areas, as well the mosques in all areas in the and sustainable buildings, the goals of sustainable devel- a total area with a capacity prayers for 220 men worshi- worshipers and another hall as public car parking spaces, country, preparing the annu- and preservation of heritage opment, in compliance with of 500 men worshipers and pers and 48 women worshi- for 48 women worshipers, some of which are dedicated al plan for the maintenance aesthetics in the mosque de- the UN Millennium Develop- 75 women worshipers, with pers, with residences for the with two residences for the to people with disabilities. of mosques and the houses signs to reflect Qatari and ment Goals. (QNA) residences for the imams imam and the muezzin, along imams. A centre for memo- The Mosques Department of the imams in coordina- Islamic heritage. MoPH seeks to reduce consumption of HMC warns against extreme diets and fad fats, sugar and salt to curb health risks weight loss programme CATHERINE W GICHUKI in Qatar to develop policies, DOHA programmes and an action Tribune News Network plan to reduce consumption Doha THE Ministry of Public of saturated and hydrogen- Health (MoPH) has started ated fats, sugar and salt to It’s a must for people to implementing the initiative achieve the objectives of the avoid extreme diets and fad to reduce consumption of initiative. The efforts of the weight loss programmes, fats, sugar and salt in Qatar Ministry of Public Health are Reem al Saadi, Hamad Medi- as part of the ministry’s ongo- based on the implementation cal Corporation’s (HMC) Di- ing efforts to promote aware- of WHO recommendations rector of Dietetics and Nutri- Reem al Saadi ness among various segments to reduce the consumption of tion, has cautioned. of the society of adopting saturated and hydrogenated The beginning of a new cal- thoughtful about food choices. healthy lifestyles. fats, sugar and salt to support endar year, Saadi pointed out, “All macro-nutrients, in- This comes as part of the Speakers and participants at a health workshop in Doha on Tuesday. (hanson K Joseph) healthy lifestyles and prevent often coincides with individuals cluding carbohydrates, protein National Health Strategy the risk factors of chronic making unrealistic New Year and fat, are important for the 2018-22 and the National Nu- of sugar, salt and fat in it. We non-communicable diseases. resolutions related to weight body and must be consumed, trition and Physical Activity want situational analyses of Dr Ayoub al Jawaldeh, loss, with many having negative but it is important to be mind- Action Plan where MoPH is the products to chalk out new WHO regional officer for nu- health consequences. ful of portion size. For those try- developing and implement- strategies regarding this ini- trition, and Dr Karen McCall, “Making a resolution to ing to lose weight, limiting extra ing national policies and tiative,” she said. international advisor nomi- start a weight loss programme calories from refined carbohy- programmes to reduce the According to her, the ex- nated by the WHO, will review is a good idea and a great op- drates, simple sugars and added burden of non-communi- perts will be advising them efforts to reduce the consump- portunity to lead a healthier and fat is important,” Saadi said. cable diseases and to check about products that are pro- tion of saturated and hydro- happier life, but it’s important Saadi urged anyone who risk factors contributing to duced in the international genated fats, sugar and salt in to set realistic goals. Weight loss has an existing health condition chronic non-communicable arena or in the region. “They food and beverage products, can have significant health ben- should seek medical advice be- diseases (NCDs). will inform us about their re- examine the challenges fac- efits for many individuals, but fore making drastic changes to On Tuesday, the MoPH search works on the products ing producers and try to find crash diets are not sustainable their diet or exercise routine. held a workshop with the and advise us accordingly as appropriate solutions. and can have dangerous mental “Low carbohydrate diets World Health Organisation to what is suitable for Qatar WHO recommends re- and physical side effects,” cau- are popular and can provide (WHO) experts in nutrition to and the best practice”, she ducing salt consumption to 5 tioned Saadi. good results. However, restric- forge the way forward. pointed out. grammes per day and sugar According to her, around tive diets are not desirable long A second workshop will tawa said that the initiative Dr Mutawa added that the She said that the work- consumption to a maximum 20 percent of all patients seen term and should only be prac- be held for the private sec- aims to reduce consumption national survey showed that shop would help them study of 35 grams per day for adults at the Dietetics and Nutrition ticed for a limited time, usu- tor companies working in the of fat, sugar and salt through 50 percent of Qatari adults the situation in Qatar, learn and 25 grammes for mothers Department are referred after ally not longer than six months. field of food in Qatar on Janu- both imported and indige- have three or more indication about the best practices and and children. It also recom- they have experienced difficul- Longer term, eating a balanced ary 31, 2019, at the ministry nous foods. “We are targeting of risks for non-communica- to get the recommendations mends reducing intake of ties due to extreme diets. She low-calorie diet is the key to headquarters. all the non-communicable ble chronic diseases. from the experts in order to hydrogenated and saturated notes that the key to sustainable weight loss and maintenance,” Speaking to Qatar Trib- diseases. Our aim is to de- “By collaborating with get consumption of fats, sugar fats by less than 1 percent and weight loss is combining healthy explained Saadi. une, Head of Non-Commu- crease the prevalence of non- WHO, we want to ascertain and salt reduced in Qatar. less than 10 percent of the foods with keeping physically Saadi advised anyone who is nicable Diseases Section at communicable diseases by the state of production of the The two workshops aim to daily energy needs (calorie) active. She recommends eat- considering a crash diet to focus MoPH Dr Kholood al Mu- this initiative.” food as well as the percentage review the current situation respectively. ing a variety of foods and being on long-term, realistic goals. Qatar reasserts itself QEERI launches pilot project to supply on regional stage: FT sustainable energy to farms in Qatar QNA Gulf expert at Chatham Doha House Neil Quilliam said: “They are starting to be First phase of the programme sees installation of 120 solar panels, which will produce 30 kilowatts of electricity British newspaper Finan- punchy again”, adding “There cial Times (FT) said on Tues- will still be red lines about Tribune News Network produce 30 kilowatts of electric- by QEERI for the pilot phase of day that Qatar has been able where they go, but they have Doha ity, while ensuring that energy their project, which will change to overcome the impact of weathered the storm of the requirements are met in an ef- how farmers across the country the blockade and feels con- blockade and they are cer- Qatar Environment and ficient and sustainable manner. use electricity on their farms. fident as it seeks to reassert tainly feeling confident.” He Energy Research Institute Dr Marc Vermeersch, ex- Using solar panels, we are able itself on the regional stage by pointed out that “the swirl (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin ecutive director of QEERI, to ensure the supply of suffi- wielding its financial clout of diplomacy” is also signal- Khalifa University (HBKU), said: “Qatar has an abundant cient energy to meet our needs and launching a flurry of dip- ing that Qatar feels that the has launched a pilot project to supply of solar energy and, as and minimise the impact on the lomatic activity 18 months worst of the financial impact provide advanced technologi- a research institute with a na- environment. We look forward after the blockade. of the blockade, which began cal solutions for the supply of tional mandate, QEERI is fo- to assisting QEERI in develop- The newspaper said in an in June 2017, is over. greener and more sustainable cused on enabling the nation to ing optimum energy solutions article published under the The Gulf expert added that solutions to commercial farms harness its sustainable energy for agriculture in Qatar.” title: ‘Qatar Seeks to Muscle during the first year of the in Qatar. resources for various purposes, QEERI is committed to its Way Back on to Diplomatic blockade, Doha focused on As part of the initiative, including industry, agriculture providing tangible solutions Stage’ that Doha welcomed stemming an economic crisis, QEERI has partnered with and households. With this pi- to Qatar’s energy, water and two foreign leaders (Sudanese as it repatriated more than a farm that is located to the lot project, we hope to make environmental challenges. President Omar al-Bashir and $30 billion held overseas by south-west of Doha. The project aims to build an integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) system a positive impact on thisfarm Its scientists will continue to Pakistani Prime Minister Im- the Qatar Investment Author- The project aims to build to supply the required electrical energy to the farm for irrigation, lighting by building an energy system build on the partnership to ran Khan), offered $500 mil- ity to stabilise the financial an integrated solar photovol- and cooling. powered by the sun.” test the technologies for use lion to buy bonds in Lebanon system, sought out new trade taic (PV) system to supply the Salem Fahad Alahababi, on desert farms, which will and hosted talks between the partners and used its force to required electrical energy to and cooling. gramme saw the installation owner of the farm, said: “We are in turn support Qatar’s food Taliban and the US. build relations. the farm for irrigation, lighting The first phase of the pro- of 120 solar panels, which will fortunate to have been selected security goals. Nour, Anna and the Wise Fools concert’s world premiere in Doha Ailyn Agonia Education (WISE). the children in the crowd meet- Doha The musical is a continua- ing close with the characters. tion of the story of a girl named The Children’s and Fam- The family concert ‘Nour, Nour who was introduced in the ily Festival 2019 features four Anna and the Wise Fools’ fea- first family concert of the fes- family concerts. The third con- turing the theatre duo ACTory tival titled ‘Nour, A Girl of the cert ‘Peter and the Wolf’ will be and Qatar Philharmonic Or- Desert’. This time, Nour, played staged on February 1 at the Ka- chestra (QPO) had its world by Svetlana Schmitz, was joined tara Drama Theatre. The musi- premiere during the Children’s by her new found friend in the cal, to be narrated by Christoph and Family Festival 2019 big city Anna, played by Tamara Schmitz, will showcase the sev- staged at the Katara Drama Schafer, as they narrate scenes en visuals created by 14 young Theatre on Tuesday. of stories from the books they students between the ages eight The concert featuring the found in an attic. and 12 through the WISE Peter music of Richard Strauss and With QPO’s music setting and the Wolf Workshop. composition by QPO’s MAias the mood, the actors enter- The last event to be staged Alyamani was the second tained the young audience with for the Festival is the concert event featured in the first of their funny narration of the sto- The family concert ‘Nour, Anna and the Wise Fools’ which features the theatre duo ACTory and Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra with the music of featuring Qatar Youth Orches- its kind festival organised by ries about wise fools from old Richard Strauss and composition by MAias Alyamani had its world premiere in Doha on Tuesday. (Photographs by Jalal Pathiyoor) tra with QPO and to be con- QPO in partnership with Qa- times Djuha, Till Eulenspiegel ducted by Giovanni Pasini at tar Music Academy and the and Nasreddin Hodja. toys, clothes and old stuff in the the stories of the wise fools. some children from the crowd delight of the audience. the Katara Opera House on World Innovation Summit for The girls made use of the attic of Anna’s house to act out The actors even invited to be part of the narration to the The concert concluded with February 2.