ABU DHABI // Improving the health of the nation and promoting family values were the focus of the first day of the Abu Dhabi Family Forum on Tuesday.
As well free health check-ups for visitors, the conference at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre offered workshops and lectures about the importance of a strong family unit.
“The initiative is organised in order to build a safe environment, besides promoting and empowering families to confront the challenges they face and maintain their sustainability,” a spokesman for the event said.
About 40 private and public companies set up booths to offer their services to the families. The conference also contained five “cities” or zones focusing on different aspects of the family, including the elderly, children, men, women and youth.
Visitors to the event said they learnt a lot about health and family relations.
“I like the event very much. It is not only providing entertainment and fun activities but also educating us about how to cope with the challenges in the family structure,” said A S, 26.
“I think it is a very good concept and no family can be happy if any member is not healthy,” said the Emirati national from Abu Dhabi.
Many schoolchildren also attended the first day of the conference.
Shamma Abdullah, a 12-year-old pupil at Hunain Public School, said the event was very interesting.
“We participated in lots of activities in different sections. We also learnt a lot about the importance of family and grandparents,” she said.
The forum took place under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, the General Women’s Union and the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood and was inaugurated by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, National Security Adviser.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
