UNITED: Participants at this year’s MOQP Challenge stood together to create a giant blue circle, the international symbol for “Unite for Diabetes”.

Over 20 teams from companies in Qatar are participating in the challenge to raise awareness on diabetes. By Anand Holla

Marked by an enthusiastic collective roar, yesterday morning saw the flagging of the much-awaited fourth Maersk Oil & Qatar Petroleum (MOQP) Challenge. Twenty teams from different companies in Qatar once again set off to battle out  over two exhilarating days, raising money for and awareness of “Action on Diabetes’” Partnership.
The two days will see around 100 participants from more than 20 teams compete over two days in the country’s largest and most exciting corporate team-building event designed to raise awareness and funds to tackle diabetes in Qatar.
In a show of solidarity with the underlying message and theme of the event, participants at this year’s MOQP Challenge stood together to create a giant blue circle, the international symbol for “Unite for Diabetes” to mark World Diabetes Day 2015 which is on November 14.
Taking place at Sealine Beach Resort, the fourth annual MOQP Challenge continues for its second and final day today in a bid to raise money for the Al Bawasil camp for children with diabetes. The MOQP Challenge, which was attended by Lewis Affleck, Managing Director of Maersk Oil Qatar, further promotes the work of Action on Diabetes (AoD), a public-private partnership initiated and funded by Maersk Oil Qatar that aims to educate members of the community on the factors that lead to diabetes, and empower people to avoid and manage the condition through early detection as well as equip them with simple steps, tools and know-how in order to safeguard their health.
Action on Diabetes is clear evidence of Maersk Oil Qatar’s commitment to the country for generations to come and an example of how the business is making a meaningful contribution to Qatari society through its social investment partnerships.
Over the past four years, Action on Diabetes has screened more than 32,000 people for the condition, engaged with thousands of people through awareness campaigns and supported more than 2,000 courses to build capacity and support the professional development of doctors, nurses and diabetes educators including training on the latest techniques in diabetes treatment and support.
This year’s event is taking place at the Sealine Beach Resort and is featuring teams representing some of Qatar’s largest and best-known organisations from both the public and private sector.
The 2015 challenge sees the involvement of teams representing organisations from sectors as diverse as energy, health, higher education, advertising and professional services as well as a ministry. Organisations competing include the Supreme Council of Health, Maersk Oil Qatar, Action on Diabetes, Schlumbeger, Oxy, Gulf Drilling International, WorleyParsons, Texas A&M, Tripletwo, Gasal, Dolphin Energy and Al Shaheen Weatherford.