Qatar 2022 workers to get health checks

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the infrastructure required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has entered into a partnership agreement with Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).

Under the terms of the agreement, a team of clinical researchers from WCM-Q will examine workers’ health, diet, and general awareness of the importance of nutrition. The researchers will also evaluate current nutritional intake and identify prevalent health challenges among workers that an improved diet could address.

In a statement, SC said that it will carry out a research and training pilot programme, which will initially target a random sample of 1,000 workers on SC projects, in three phases.

Phase 1 will cover health checks and reporting. WCM-Q will carry out health checks on 1,000 workers to determine prevalence of health-related issues. The key research findings will then be compiled into a report outlining the recommendations for phases 2 and 3.

Phase 2, meanwhile, will consist of an awareness and training campaign. WCM-Q will be educating a sample of 1,000 workers on the benefits of healthy lifestyles and balanced diets; and key stakeholders on the need to provide nutritious food options for workers. During this phase, access to dieticians and nutritionists will be provided, SC noted.

The last phase will see WCM-Q working in tandem with contractors and catering suppliers to recommend food options for the sample 1,000 workers, to be provided within their worksites and accommodation.

According to SC, the project will conclude with the release of a detailed report that will summarise the outcomes, impact, and key findings of the programme, and put forward recommendations for future intervention.

Qatar currently has eight construction sites underway, with over 10,000 workers on-site at any given time.

SC noted in its statement that the number of workers engaged for its construction projects is expected to rise to 36,000 in the next 12 months, as various projects approach completion or the main works stage. Khalifa International Stadium is expected for completion in Q2 2017, while the Al Wakrah and Qatar Foundation stadiums are set to be completed by 2018.