Workers drawn from a wide spectrum of age-groups have praised the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's (SC) nutritional programme for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ construction workers.

They were among the 1,000 workers who attended an outdoor educational activation event at Al Khor Sports Park, aimed at creating awareness among themselves and their employers about a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet

The same workers had undergone comprehensive health screenings in 2017 as part of Phase One of the programme launched by SC's Workers' Welfare Department with the renowned Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q) as delivery partner.

The workers offered their own unique perspective about the benefits of the nutritional programme as they tried their hand at football and cricket, rode blender bikes to make their own fresh juices and took the opportunity to measure body mass index and receive healthy meals.

58-year-old Gurmail Singh, a MIDMAC employee currently working as a carpenter at the Al Wakrah Stadium site, described the nutritional programme as a means towards getting a better quality of life during his post-retirement years.

"I thank my employers for looking after my health by doing these medical tests and monitoring my health periodically," said Singh. ". My employer's endeavour will help identify health problems at the outset and enable quick treatment. I can therefore hope to spend a healthy life in India with my two sons after I work a few more years in Qatar."

Gurmail Singh works at Al Wakrah site

For fellow Indian national Jitendra Sah, a 38-year-old carpenter at Al Rayyan Stadium site, the nutrition programme is about prolonging his years in the trade and providing for his family.

"I have a 17-year-old daughter in India who is currently about to finish school. I want to continue educating her. I also have two younger boys, and I want them to enroll in a computer course so that they can find employment in Mumbai or Delhi. My employer is helping me realise my goals by looking after my health. They have my interests in their mind and I respect their efforts." Said Sah.

Jitendra Sah works at Al Rayyan site

Ghanaian Ahmed Kwabenakumi is of the same age as Sah and works on the same stadium site and for the same employer – Larsen & Toubro. A former second division centre-back in his home country and now one of the football coaches of a 2018 Workers' Cup team, Kwabenakumi believes the nutrition programme will help extend his working years as a steel fixer and enable him to spend quality time on the football field with his colleagues.

"I am a firm believer in fitness as I am a former footballer and now a coach," said Kwabenakumi. "I welcome the Supreme Committee's generous initiative to improve our nutrition and health. The free health check-ups are a bonus – recently one such screening revealed that one of our football brothers was suffering from high blood pressure. He is now getting treated. This programme will prolong our working lives and enable us to enjoy quality time bonding on the football field."

Ahmed Kwabenakumi works at Al Rayyan site

At 26, Mohammed Salamosa from Bangladesh might be at the peak of his youthful years but adverse circumstances back home have resulted in putting an old head on young shoulders. The only bread-winner in a family of seven, Salamosa says it is imperative for his family's sake that he remains healthy.

Mohammed Salamosa works at Al Rayyan site

"I need to provide for my four younger siblings and my aged parents and I am happy that my employers are looking after my health," said the tower crane signalman at Al Rayyan site.

He added: "I enjoy playing cricket with my colleagues and I am a good fast bowler and need to remain fit. Good health is taken for granted by many in my age-group but one has to work towards it. I am dedicated to my health and fitness."