Dubai, September 08: With an aim to analyse the actual prevalence of diabetes among the UAE nationals and residents in Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has launched a massive diabetes awareness and screening programme that will run through 2010.
Free screening and educational classes will be offered at hospitals, primary health centres, malls and sports clubs in the initial phase of the programme that will also cover schools and universities from the beginning of 2010.
Officials announced these details as Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, under whose patronage the programme has been launched, visited the screening booth at Al Badaa Health Centre and got himself tested for diabetes on Monday. The programme, which saw a soft launch earlier in July, has already offered free diabetes tests to 5,000 citizens and residents in various parts of Dubai and Hatta. A team of DHA medical professionals and representatives from 3M and Roche are visiting different locations in the emirate to conduct the tests and spread the awareness about diabetes.
Head of Chronic Care Unit in Primary Health Care Department of DHA Dr Mohammad Farghaly said the screening programme will create an emirate-wide database indicating the actual prevalence of the condition. “Now, everyone refers to the estimate by International Diabetes Federation that 24 per cent of UAE nationals and 19.6 per cent of expatriates have diabetes.”
Because of the high prevalence of obesity among youngsters, Dubai Hospital Director Dr Abdul Razaq Al Madani who was part of the committee which formed the National Diabetes Guidelines said the programme will also screen those in their 20s for type 2 diabetes.
CEO of Primary Health Care at DHA Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Kalban said the awareness programmes will highlight the importance of prevention through lifestyle changes.
Assistant Director General for Finance and Administrative Affairs at the authority Khalid Sheikh Al Mubarak said the year 2009 was dedicated for diabetes control at a national level and higher authorities were focusing more on the prevention of the condition that causes a heavy burden on the health sector.
–Agencies