Dubai: After Ramadan fridges in mosques and communities, Dubai is taking the food charity initiative to parks.
Dubai Municipality on Sunday announced a new initiative called Ramadan Walk in cooperation with Al Rawabi, which has provided special fridges in Dubai’s public parks packaged with juices, as well as dates and dairy products to benefit walkers.
A total of 30 fridges have been distributed in 22 parks, Mohammad Mubarak Al Mutaiwei, assistant director general for Communication and Community Sector in Dubai Municipality said in a press release.
He said it was launched in line with the initiatives of the Year of Giving coinciding with the Ramadan. It also forms part of Municipality’s keenness to launch community initiatives aimed at spreading health awareness among the members of the community to encourage them to exercise.
The fridges are installed in Sufouh, Nad Al Sheba, Zabeel, Safa, Quran Park, Al Khawaneej, Nadd Al Hamar, Mirdif, Uptown Mirdif, Al Warqa 2, Al Warqa 3, Al Nahda Pond Park, Al Tawar 1, Al Tawar 2, Al Tawar 3, Umm Suqeim, Qusais, Abu Hail, Al Barsha 1, Al Quoz, Muhaisnah, and Mizhar.
Al Mutaiwei noted that the Municipality is always keen to launch community-based initiatives promoting health and environmental awareness.
The Ramadan Walk initiative will instill health awareness on the importance of exercise during the holy month, especially the fact that the month of Ramadan urges to take care of health.
“Exercise plays an important role in maintaining the body’s balance of fluids, muscles, fat and bones, and in the prevention of disease. Therefore, Dubai Municipality has set up running tracks in parks to encourage the community to exercise,” he said.
Al Mutaiwei said exercise in Ramadan is an urgent need to maintain the vitality and health of the body.
“The daily lifestyle and the body system change in this holy month. The number of sleeping hours at night and physical activity during the day decreases and is concentrated in the evening. In addition to that the timing and types of meals also change characterized by the increase of sugars and fats,” he pointed out.
“As a result of prolonged fasting throughout the day and depriving the body of water, especially in hot climates, dehydration and muscle weakness occur in the body. So, exercise becomes very important to strengthen the muscles and the health and integrity of the body,” he said.
Under the UAE Food Bank intiiative, the muniicpality’s Food Safety Department had earlier announced providing 80 Ramadan fridges in mosques in Dubai. Residents can donate surplus food through these fridges. Some residential communities in Dubai are also running Ramadan fridge initiative for the benefit of low income workers and needy people.
