Visitors can engage in a range of activities promoting healthy living at Qatar National Library during the month of February. The exciting schedule of events provides an opportunity for community members to learn more about healthcare in Qatar, participate in fitness activities in celebration of Qatar National Sports Day, and get advice on how to avoid common health issues.
On 6 February, wheelchair users can join “Zumba on Wheels,” and enjoy an intensive, two-hour Zumba session with Nawaal Akram, an inspiring Qatari model. The event offers a chance for participants to get to know one another and share fitness goals.
The Library will also launch “Healthcare in Qatar: Development and Milestones Over 70 Years,” an exhibition charting the progression from traditional medical practices to the development of Qatar’s modern healthcare infrastructure. The exhibition will run from 11 February to 31 March.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, Director of the Information Center at the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences in Kuwait, will present a scientific lecture on 11 February to mark the opening of the exhibition. Entitled "Contributions of Islamic Civilization Scientists in Medicine,” it will highlight the advancement of medical research and development across the Islamic world.
On 22 February, Dr. Sahar Al-Ani, consultant obstetrics and gynecology at the Middle East Healthcare Complex, will discuss the most pressing health challenges facing women in Qatar and how best to manage them.
Other health-related events taking place at the Library next month include “The Effect of Doping on Health” on 23 February and “Vegan the Qatari Way” on 27 February.
“Maintaining good health is one of the most important things we can all do, and our events throughout February provide an opportunity for everyone in the community to learn more about the best ways to keep themselves healthy,” said Amani Saleh Alyafei, Head of Science at Qatar National Library. “As our exhibition shows, Qatar’s healthcare sector has made great strides over the past decades, and that’s something we can all benefit from.”
The Library’s packed calendar of events for February is not solely health-related, with literacy, science, music and poetry also on the menu.
Visitors at the Library can engage in live conversations with internally displaced persons in a refugee camp in Erbil, Iraq and discuss their healthcare challenges. The event, “Open Portal Dialogues: Healthcare,” will take place on 5 February, from 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM at Doha Debates Portal Studio stationed at the Library’s main entrance.
Mothers and children 3 to 5 years old can attend a session on the positive impact of reading to young ones from an early age. The event, which will be conducted in Arabic, will take place on 9 February at the Library’s Auditorium.
Renowned designer and artist Taekyeom Lee will highlight innovative approaches to graphic design in “Digitally Crafted: Digital Design and Fabrication” on 7 February. He will also discuss his ongoing research on using emerging technologies in tool-making and other creative practices.
In collaboration with Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar, the country’s oldest Urdu literary organization, the Library will organize a talk about the life and work of Mirza Ghalib, a prominent 19th century Urdu and Persian poet. The event, taking place on 15 February—the eve of the 150th anniversary of his death—celebrates the enduring legacy of Ghalib and will include recitations of his famous poems. The literary evening is part of the Library’s celebration of Qatar-India 2019 Year of Culture.
February’s session of the Science Book Forum, entitled, “Evolution between Science and Myth,” will be held on 18 February. An expert will discuss the origins and development of the theory of evolution, and attendees will be encouraged to share their views on various misconceptions surrounding the theory.
The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will hold its monthly concert, “Ravel, Debussy and Jolivet,” at the Library on 21 February. Harpist Julie Sgarro, along with other members of the Orchestra, will perform three chamber works.
Additionally, green-fingered visitors are invited to take part in a tree-planting ceremony at the Library on 23 February. The event, jointly organized with Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), celebrates Qatar Environment Day 2019, and is part of QBG’s annual Ghars campaign.
