Dubai Health Authority (DHA) marked the national Reading Hour as part of the Month of Reading last Tuesday.
The Month of Reading, which falls in the month of March every year, was launched as part of the UAE National Reading Strategy last year.
Encouraged to read
In light of this month, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources launched the Reading Hour initiative in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Office, where government employees are given a dedicated hour to read. In celebration of the Month of Reading, DHA took part in the hour of reading initiative by launching a series of activities at its headquarters, hospitals, clinics and health centres.
DHA employees were encouraged to read during the dedicated hour from 11am to 12 noon. The authority provided the employees with a selection of books that ranged in genres. Most notable were a number of books dedicated to the different phases of the life of the founding father of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed.
During the Reading Hour, DHA hospitals distributed a children’s book penned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Copies of the book titled Two Great Leaders were distributed to all children receiving treatment at the hospital and who were visiting.
Braille books
The primary healthcare sector celebrated by providing books about the life of Shaikh Zayed, including Braille books that were distributed to people of determination.
H.E. Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, said that by celebrating the Month of Reading, the UAE aims to instil the culture of reading among its people. He added that it would also aid in strengthening the UAE residents’ proficiency in Arabic.
Al Qutami added that in light of the Year of Zayed, the employees were encouraged to read about the founding father of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed, during the Reading Hour.
