UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim a leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa region said two of the leading shopping destinations in Oman are spearheading its regional health campaign ‘Feel the Beat’ that offers complimentary heart health testing for women in the sultanate.  

Appealing to all women to fight the leading cause of death in most countries in the Middle East - cardiovascular diseases, City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum are inviting females in the community to get preventative testing and professional health advice.  

Sultan Qaboos University will provide medical professionals to administer complimentary testing and conduct check-ups for women from 5 to 9pm at Muscat on May 26 and 27 and at Qurum on June 5 and 6.

The checks include blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI) to determine if the women were at risk for heart disease. In addition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training sessions will be conducted during the campaign.

Causing 45 per cent of early deaths in the Gulf region, cardiovascular diseases do not spare women despite the common beliefs that this concerns more men, said experts.

"With ‘Feel the Beat’, Majid Al Futtaim highlights its commitment to creating great moments for everyone, everyday while nurturing the welfare of communities where it has a presence," said Husam Al Mandhari, the senior mall manager, City Centre Muscat.  

"This is the second year that City Centre Muscat is running a health campaign with a focus on heart health, which had been successful and in demand," he stated.

Last year, more than 400 women took part and got tested, while more than 425 got training on how to conduct CPR to save the life of a person who has cardiac arrest.

“We are keen to continue engaging the local community with initiatives that benefit them, and I urge all women to take part and get tested for the risks of heart disease,” said Watfa Humaid Al Harthy, the senior mall manager at City Centre Qurum.

'With the objective to empower women to take control of their heart health through early detection and preventative measures, ‘Feel the Beat’ is part of Majid Al Futtaim’s wider programme of health and sustainability initiatives taking place throughout the year," added Al Harthy.-TradeArabia News Service