The UAE invests substantially in the health care sector, but the emphasis tends to be focused on hospitals to treat ailments rather than on preventing residents getting sick in the first place. With high rates of lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, having a more preventive focus makes good sense.
Physical exercise has long been seen as part of any smart preventive medicine programme, which is why this newspaper has been championing greater activity through our #healthyliving campaign. But while there are many good sporting facilities in the UAE, the Federal National Council has been told that funding shortfalls discourage those who want to participate in sports.
Sultan Al Sammahi, an FNC member from Fujairah, said the General Authority of Youth and Sports’ own report stated that a 65 per cent shortfall in youth centre budgets was reflected in weakened infrastructure, fewer programmes being offered and fewer skilled coaches and personal trainers working in the sector.
He contrasted that to the large salaries used to entice foreign players to join UAE teams, urging instead a greater emphasis on the health of those who live here. While sports fans will always enjoy watching exceptionally gifted foreign players competing in local football leagues, Mr Al Sammahi’s point makes sense, both medically and economically. UAE hospitals bristle with high-tech diagnostic equipment and play an important role in the health care sector but they are akin to stationing an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff instead of building a fence at the top of it.
To his credit, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development, accepted the point and has agreed to increase youth centre budgets. The likelihood is that every dirham spent on sporting facilities will produce savings of several orders of magnitude through lowering the incidence of preventable lifestyle diseases.
This is more than economics. The value of living more active lives – and thus enjoying better health so we can interact with our children and still be here to play with our grandchildren – cannot be measured in dirhams. Our country is fortunate to have the resources to provide outstanding sports facilities so that those who live here can be more active. The FNC debate is a start.
