NewsDetail
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) proudly announces that eight of their leaders and one family member have recently climbed the 5,895 meters of Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa.
The climb up to the summit of Kilimanjaro took place recently with the aim to lead by example in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
This group initiative is a collaboration between senior staff from different areas of the organization and it meant that significant training amid their busy schedules. The leaders hope that it will encourage others to incorporate physical activities into their daily lives and also instill a culture of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The team of nine including doctors, administrators and one family member, started the climb early in the morning. All members have endured a long and hard journey in very challenging weather conditions; fortunately, they all made it to the Mount Kilimanjaro summit.
Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani, Medical Director for Hamad General Hospital said:" The idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was irresistible; the actual climbing to the summit was amazing, but doing it as a team made it even better. The overall experience was unforgettable and exhausting at the same time. The hardest part of it for me was to go without a proper shower for eight days!”
Commenting on the challenges, Dr. Al Maslamani added: “It is not really the walking that was challenging, but the altitude. Climbers usually get a headache or other gentle symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) that can be mostly solved by taking a mild analgesic, such as paracetamol, to relieve the pain. However, some climbers might experience High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), which is extreme shortness of breath or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). We were sure to keep an eye out for any worrying symptoms and take all precautions necessary to ensure we all had a safe and enjoyable climb.”
Speaking about the climb, Mr. Mohamed Al Noimi, Chief of Communications and Chief of Staff for the Managing Director’s Office, who was accompanied by his nephew, stated: “The 20,000 foot climb up Mount Kilimanjaro is a life-changing experience. It is a test of courage and perseverance and I think it helps you to see the world differently. It is also an opportunity to encourage others to adopt effective practices to improve their health and to support HMC’s commitment to ensure the wellbeing of the population of Qatar.”
