On April 14th, IOM (Egypt) organized an event for migrant communities at Cairo’s Sayyeda Zeinab Cultural Park for Children, in cooperation with Tadamon – The Egyptian Refugee Multicultural Council, to celebrate World Health Day (WHD), which had a 2016 theme of “Beat Diabetes”.

The event hosted more than 700 attendees including migrants from the Sudanese, Somali, Syrian, Kenyan, Ethiopian and Eritrean communities who attended a 10-minute presentation on diabetes and were encouraged to undertake a free blood glucose screening by the Arabic Association for the Study of Diabetes and Metabolism (AASD).

More than half of the event’s attendees were tested for diabetes, of whom less than 10 percent were referred for further follow up by IOM and UNHCR.

In addition to the diabetes screenings, IOM has collaborated with Baraka Optics, to provide free eyeglasses to migrants reporting weak vision. During the event, Baraka provided 110 eyeglasses to migrants who have registered prior to the event.

The event featured music bands and food prepared by the migrant communities. Gelateria Sociale, a no-profit ice-cream shop, supporting Egyptian deprived host community, served free ice cream to around 400 children, including a sugar-free flavor for diabetic participants. Face-painting, fun games for children and musical bands from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia contributed to make the day a joyful celebration of a healthy and active lifestyle.

“My children had so much fun today. They loved the games and face painting. They have not had that much fun in a long while,” smiled one Sudanese migrant =)

More details…
https://www.iom.int/news/iom-egypt-offers-free-diabetes-screenings-eyeglasses-migrants-mark-world-health-day