HMC: Significant fall in Emergency visitors, call to ambulance services during Eid Al Fitr

Published: 13 April 2025

Healthy eating, better monitoring of children and increased awareness cited as reasons

DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation’s emergency departments witnessed a significant decrease in the number of visitors during Eid al-Fitr this year, along with a marked decline in the number of calls to ambulance services, Al Raya reports.

Physicians and officials at HMC believe this decline reflects a positive shift in individual and societal behavior, attributable to three factors: increased health awareness, increased monitoring of children by families, and healthy eating during Eid.

They emphasized that one of the most significant factors contributing to this decline is increased community awareness.

Many citizens and residents have become more aware of the importance of preventing injuries and health problems that typically increase during the holidays, such as food poisoning and domestic accidents.

Awareness campaigns launched by the Ministry of Public Health and HMC have also helped to enhance this awareness by widely disseminating preventive guidelines.

Families’ keenness to monitor their children, especially during gatherings and celebrations, has been a significant factor in reducing the number of minor and moderate injuries, which were previously a major reason for emergency visits.

Many parents have become more committed to accompanying their children to entertainment venues, preventing them from using dangerous toys or consuming excessive amounts of sweets and fatty foods that could affect their health.

Healthy habits in society have also contributed to reducing the need for hospital emergency visits, as everyone has become more concerned with personal hygiene, avoiding crowded gatherings, and choosing healthy foods. This has reduced the chances of infection or the occurrence of sudden health problems.