A team of Etisalat’s employees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia will participate in a 2000km, Pan-European cycle tour – the GSMA mHealth Grand Tour this September aiming to raise awareness of diabetes.

It will also aim to showcase mobile health technologies that are being developed and create data to help global health authorities shape effective policies that will help those suffering from this disease and others.

More than 40,000 staff of the Etisalat Group, a leading telecom company in the region, have been invited to join a GSMA initiative.

Abdulaziz Al Sawaleh, chief human resources officer at the Etisalat Group said: “The message we wish to deliver is that we are not just a business partner, but a social partner as well and that we care for the health of our employees and for the communities. I wish all of those who are selected the best of luck in this worthy initiative.”

The 13-day GSMA mHealth Grand Tour will cover 2,100 kilometres over four stages, with more than 22,000 metres of climbs.

Jeanine Vos, executive director, mHealth at the GSMA said: “The mHealth Grand Tour will help build visibility of this public health crisis, as well as demonstrate how innovative mobile-based solutions can help people address diabetes and related conditions and liberate them to lead active lifestyles. It will also be a tremendously exciting experience and we are encouraging as many teams as possible to take part.”

For the mHealth Grand Tour, the GSMA has partnered with the International Diabetes Federation European Region (IDF Europe), an umbrella organisation that promotes diabetes care, prevention and research, and advocates for the rights of the 55 million people living with the condition in Europe.

“Through this Grand Tour we want to raise awareness of diabetes, a condition that affects an increasing number of people across Europe and worldwide. We also want to show how essential healthy and active lifestyles are in diabetes prevention and management,” commented João Nabais, president of IDF Europe. – TradeArabia News Service