Asthma on the agenda at fun Jumeirah beach event

Hundreds of people enjoy free entertainment and medical checks at event held to raise awareness of asthma.

A bodybuilder poses with visitors at the asthma awareness walkathon in Dubai on Friday. Jaime Puebla / The National

DUBAI // Families from all backgrounds and hundreds of beachgoers took part in an event on Friday to raise awareness of asthma.

The Breathe Healthy to Stop Asthma walkathon, held at Jumeirah Open Beach, involved live fitness shows, free medical checks, food, zumba classes and street entertainers.

“We want to raise awareness of the importance of exercise in helping people who have asthma,” said Dr Najiba Al Shezawy, from Professionals Regulatory Affairs, which organised the event with Dubai Municipality.

“We have had a great response from the public and hopefully this is a great step in making people aware of the issue.”

Families took part in a 3km walkathon along the running and cycle path at the beach, and throughout the day people took advantage of free medical checks.

“We decided to come to the beach in the morning and thought we should check out what was happening here,” said Airene Lazaro, from the Philippines.

“I’m here with my husband and we’ve had a walk around the stalls, but the best thing about it so far has been the free medical checks.”

Rajesh Ambekar, from India, said: “There needs to be more of these kinds of events because asthma is something that people don’t really think about.”

More than 30 different groups and organisations were involved in the event, which organisers hope will become an annual occurrence.

Visitors were given advice on how to reduce the risk of getting asthma and how best to manage it through breathing techniques and regular exercise.

“Creating awareness of asthma and its associated risks is essential given the challenge to public health from this disease,” said Zohoor Al Sabagh, director of Dubai’s Public Health Service Department.