Abu Dhabi, August 29: The UAE and Spain are exploring the best mechanisms to fight obesity and its complications as part of the World Heart Day which falls on September 27.
of the Spanish Heart Foundation, an expert in cardiovascular diseases recently met Dr Mahmoud Fikri, CEO of Health Policies at the Ministry of Health (MoH) to discuss ways of boosting joint cooperation in the field.
Fernadez is also a prominent advisor to leading world health organisations like the European Network for
Heart Diseases.
The UAE health ministry’s anti-obesity programme figured high in the talks.The programme to control obesity, a main cause of heart diseases, is being undertaken by the ministry in conjunction with other stakeholders including UNICEF and World Health Organisation.
Welcoming the synergy with Spain, Dr Fikri said that MoH will soon be launching a series of initiatives in order to meet the challenges of chronic diseases arising out of obesity.
This includes a clinic which will provide comprehensive health advice on how to maintain a healthy life.
A number of programmes to fight diabetes, heart disease and obesity in children will also be activated.
He added that the recommendations from the recently concluded ‘Fat Truth’campaign to fight child obesity, will be implemented this year under the school health programme of the ministry.
–Agencies