Qatar's citizens put paint to paper as Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar bids to create world's largest painting.
Qatar's citizens, from the youngest to the oldest, currently have the chance to help try to create the world's biggest painting in an event organized by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.
The college — along with its strategic partners the Supreme Council of Health, the Supreme Education Council, Qatar Petroleum, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd, ExxonMobil and Vodafone Qatar — is in the midst of hosting the Paint Your Healthy Future event as part of its Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First campaign.
Paint Your Healthy Future has seen giant canvasses placed in malls around Doha. Each canvas has been printed with a stencil and members of the public — particularly children — are being encouraged to set their inner artist free and use paint to color in the picture. At the end of the project, each canvas will be attached together to create a painting that will hopefully break the current record of 7,166 meters.
Qatar's citizens work to create world's largest painting.
For Dr. Javaid Sheikh, dean of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, the Paint Your Health Future event is an opportunity for people to take part in a world-record bid while also learning about the best way to lead a healthy life.
"The Your Health First campaign aims to educate both the Qatari and expatriate communities so that they can make informed, healthy, lifestyle choices," Dr. Sheikh said. "We can then help create a healthy population able to contribute to Qatar's knowledge-based society in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.
"But education must also be enjoyable if people are to engage with and accept the advice offered," he added. "That is why Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is hosting events such as Paint Your Healthy Future — to engage and entertain people while providing a serious message."
So far, however, the signs of breaking the existing record are very positive. When the plan was publicly unveiled, the canvasses were inundated with children and families were eager to take their turn in painting the mural. Just 10 days after they were installed, the canvasses are now being covered in art, with people of all ages picking up a paintbrush and getting involved. The diversity and quality of the designs and pictures painted so far demonstrate an innate talent for art among Qatar's population, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar officials said, as well as a keen interest in embracing healthy lifestyles.
In addition to the canvas, informative brochures about healthy lifestyles and electronic pedometers that allow users to record their daily activity levels and set targets to increase them were distributed to all participants. Participants also received body mass index measuring devices, with which they can calculate how much of their body is composed of fat and how much is muscle, a crucial measurement for determining overall health.
Along with the canvasses, doctors and dietitians are on hand during the campaign to answer questions from members of the public. They are also providing health-related promotions and brochures with tips on living a healthy lifestyle, as well as the water-based, environmentally friendly paints and brushes needed for the challenge.
The canvasses have been placed in Villaggio, Landmark, City Center and Hyatt Plaza. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar officials extend their sincere thanks to the management of the malls for their support for the Paint Your Healthy Future event. Additional canvasses will be installed at different places in Qatar, details of which will be announced later.
Together we will create a healthy nation, officials said.