Islamabad: Two cyclists from Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) have participated in the GSMA mHealth Grand Tour across three European countries as part of Etisalat’s team. The tour - which started from Brussels and ended at Geneva - was aimed at raising awareness and research into diabetes using state-of-the-art technologies. PTCL was represented by Usman Ali Akbar and Nasir Abdullah at the tour.

Members of Team Etisalat were selected from volunteers to participate in the event from across its international footprint. The team comprises of 11 Etisalat employees from 8 different nationalities, as well as a long-standing Etisalat customer, Nichola McDonald.

Commenting on the event, Dr, Ahmed Bin Ali, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group, said: “Etisalat is proud to be supporting and participate in this year’s mHealth Grand Cycle Tour. It provides a global platform to promote issues surrounding diabetes; a condition which affects millions of people around the world. In addition, the tour is the ideal opportunity to provide the impetus which will enable further develop of the mobile technology that is playing an increasingly critical role in delivering healthcare solutions.”

Syed Mazhar Hussain, CHRO PTCL said, “Our employees’ have been passionately volunteering for this initiative to combat diabetes for two years, which is a manifestation of PTCL’s commitment towards societal-development, combating diseases and improving the quality of life through its ICT platforms.”

Etisalat equipped its riders with advanced vital performance monitoring tools integrated into their uniforms and through wearable devices. The devices worked using Etisalat’s award winning Mobile Connect platform, providing real time critical data and analysis to riders and their coaches and medical practitioners.

Diabetes is a syndrome that affects 387 million people, or 8.3% of the global population in 2014. Its growth shows no sign of slowing, and the International Diabetes Federation estimates that there will be close to 592 million people with the condition by 2035. The impact of diabetes is felt particularly strongly in MENA with one in ten adults in the region believed to be diabetic.