IMASA integral to success of Big Walk
The Sunfoil 10km Big Walk held on the 28 February 2016 along the scenic Sea Point promenade was another resounding victory for the walkers and all the volunteer organisations such as the IMA who were involved. More than 20 000 walkers took part in this annual event which raises funds for Red Cross Children’s Hospital and Islamic Library and the IMA was integral to its overwhelming success.
Registration took place for three days prior to the event and the IMA stand was easily the most visited one. The stand was partnered with UCT’s Department of Dietetics who kindly offered the services of their students under the supervision of their lecturers. Six other private dieticians also provided their services and dietary advice as well as body mass index discussions kept them completely occupied. It was concerning that a significant percentage of those assessed were obese and plans are in development to do a formal study next year.
At least three nurses were always at the service of those wanting screening for hypertension and diabetes done during registration. All five hundred glucose strips kindly donated by Homemed, who always assist us at our screening programmes, were used during the registration period! A number of new diabetics were identified and suitably referred.
The walk itself was staffed by close to 60 volunteers ranging from emergency physicians, general practitioners, ICU and general nurses, physiotherapists and massage therapists. As usual a tent staffed by two doctors and nurses with an ambulance stationed next to it was put up at the half way turnaround mark as well as at the 2.5/7.5 km mark. The rest of the personnel were deployed at the main medical tent at the end point.
The mild weather ensured no major calamity and though close to 200 patients needed assessment, no one needed hospitalisation, a first for the event. The IMA members were kept busy though, from uniting lost children with their anxious parents to putting the smile back onto someone’s face when we handed his lost dentures back to him!
The organisers went out of their way, both on radio and on the day of the event to thank the members of the IMA who every single year for more than a decade unselfishly go out of their way to ensure that the walkers’ health and wellbeing is in the safest and most competent of healing and caring hands. May these types of partnerships continue and flourish, insha-Allah.
