Are you Ramadan Ready?

Ramadan begins in late March this year and Muslim communities in Britain will soon be making plans to prepare for the month of fasting. Ramadan brings a huge opportunity to revisit our routines and think about our health, as well as the wellbeing of those around us.

 

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) are working with the NHS to organise a series of health days across the country. These will help communities condition their physical and mental health for Ramadan. Local GPs and other health professionals will offer talks and opportunities to discuss aspects of their health and wellbeing in mosques across the country. Information from local NHS and public health providers will also be available around common conditions such as diabetes, menopause, heart disease, immunisations, mental health, and respiratory disease. There will also be opportunities to have health checks including blood pressures and blood sugars, with experts available to discuss healthier lifestyle choices tailored to the community.

 

Dr Salman Waqar, President of BIMA said, “Ramadan is an exciting time for us and our families. As we alter our routines to accommodate the fast to seek the spiritual benefits of the month, we can also look to material gains in our health. This can be through maintaining the Ramadan spirit and discipline in moderating our diet to lose weight, stopping smoking, and continuing to practice mindfulness to promote good mental health. Ramadan can be demanding to those with some long-term health conditions, and they should seek the advice of a clinician on how they should approach Ramadan.”

 

Dr Nikki Kanani, the Deputy Leader of the NHS COVID-19 vaccine deployment programme, who is also a GP in South-East London, said:

 

“We are pleased to support events that help to plan ahead for a happy and healthy Ramadan. This is a fantastic opportunity to talk about your faith and your physical and mental health. This is particularly important if you have an existing medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy, and you want to talk about your medication or changes to your daily routine. 

 

“During Ramadan and Eid, many people come together as families and communities. As the COVID virus is still circulating, you may still be able to get your first and second COVID vaccination if you have not already had them. The booster vaccination will not be available from 12th february 2023 however, Muslim jurists confirm that having a vaccination during Ramadan won’t invalidate your fast, and evidence shows it is the safest way to boost your immunity against the virus, protecting yourselves and your loved ones. Please note that first and second covid vaccines will only be offered at the Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham health events. ”

 

BIMA has published evidence-based clinical guidelines for clinicians to use with Muslim patients who wish to fast Ramadan with chronic conditions. The BIMA Ramadan Compendium facilitates shared decision making that will enable a safer Ramadan for these patients.

 

These events have been commissioned by NHS England, and BIMA will be work in close collaboration with local NHS and public health teams. 

 

They will be taking place between February and March 2023 in the following cities and venues:

City	Venue	Date & Time
Leicester	Masjid Bilal Mosque 80 Evington Valley Rd, Leicester LE5 5LJ	Sat 4th March  12pm-4pm
Leeds	Bilal Masjid (Bilal Community Centre)  Conway Rd, Leeds LS8 5JH	Sat 11th February   3pm – 4:45pm and  5:30pm- 7:30pm
Birmingham	Green Lane Masjid 20 Green Ln, Birmingham B9 5DB	Sat 11th February  1pm-4pm
Sheffield	Sheffield Grand Mosque Grimesthorpe Rd, Sheffield, S4 8DE	Sat 18th Feb  2.30pm-6.30pm
Nottingham	Jamia Masjid Sultania 54 Sneinton DI, Nottingham NG2 4LQ	Sat 18th Feb  12.30pm-6.30pm
Nottingham	Masjid Al Khazra Queensbury Street, Nottingham, NG6 ODG	Sat 25th Feb  12.30pm-6.30pm
Manchester	Khizra Mosque 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF	Sat 4th March  1pm-4.30pm

 

 

Notes to editor:

[1] The British Islamic Medical Association is the national organisation for Muslim healthcare professionals in Britain, aiming to unite and inspire our members to serve our patients and professions. Visit www.britishima.org for more information or see our social medial channels at

www.facebook.com/britishima or www.twitter.com/britishima. For further information please contact: [email protected]

 

[2] The BIMA Ramadan Compendium is a series of evidence based clinical guidelines, much of which is published in high quality peer-reviewed medical journals, on how clinicians can discuss risks and change medications for patients observing Ramadan with chronic conditions. It can be found at www.britishima.org/ramadan-compendium