Category: Health Protection

ABU DHABI: In a strategic move to enhance the healthcare framework in the emirate, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the healthcare regulator of Abu Dhabi, has established the first Emirati Advisory Doctors Committee.

This committee comprises DoH executive leaders and 14 distinguished Emirati clinicians and researchers from leading healthcare providers in Abu Dhabi.

Chaired by Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of DoH, the Advisory Doctors Committee aims to create a continuous dialogue platform between DoH and on-ground practitioners.

The committee will evaluate the evolving healthcare landscape and identify opportunities for improvement across various medical disciplines, including oncology, diabetes, primary care, gynaecology, infant health, mental health, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, orthopaedic surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, genetic and genomic medicine, and cosmetic surgery.

Serving as Deputy Chairman is Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of DoH. The comm
ittee fosters a two-way communication channel, allowing DoH to gain insights into the challenges faced by healthcare providers and enabling practitioners to offer feedback on new standards and guidelines. As experts in their fields, committee members will provide strategic insights on research, innovation, and industry trends to shape the future of healthcare in the emirate. Their contributions are expected to enhance patient care, raise the standard of treatment, and position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for healthcare research and innovation.

Al Mansoori expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating: ‘The establishment of the Advisory Doctors Committee represents a significant advancement in our mission to foster a healthier Abu Dhabi and elevate the Emirate’s healthcare sector on a global scale. By regularly engaging with leading minds from our world-class healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, we ensure that our guidelines and standards are informed by the latest research and invaluable on-ground insights,
facilitating more effective implementation. This collaborative effort is set to substantially improve patient outcomes, raise the standard of care, and deliver a superior healthcare experience for all residents and visitors.’

The committee held its inaugural meeting and scheduled quarterly gatherings to address industry trends and challenges, and to seek feedback on enhancing the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi.

The members, chosen to represent a wide range of healthcare specialties from prominent facilities in Abu Dhabi, include Dr. Ghadeera Saeed Al Mansoori, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Consultant at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) Abu Dhabi; Dr. Khaled Al Dahmani, Chair of Medicine Endocrinology at Tawam Hospital; Dr. Abdulla Alhmoudi, Emergency Medicine Physician at SSMC; Dr. Ahmed Abdul Karim Al Hamadi, Consultant in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Tawam Hospital; Dr. Fayez Ibrahim Al Shamsi, Consultant in Internal Medicine and Critical Care at Tawam Hospital; Dr. Ahmed AlMaazmi, Co
nsultant in Paediatrics and Neonatology at SSMC; Dr. Humaid Obaid Bin Harmal Al Shamsi, Consultant and Director of Oncology Services at Burjeel Holdings; Dr. Amal Mohamed Al Tenaiji, Metabolic Genetics Consultant at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City; Dr. Mohamed Yahya Alseiari, Consultant in Nephrology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City; Dr. Muqdad Al Hammadi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Elyzee Hospital, Abu Dhabi; Dr. Yaaqoub Al Hammadi, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Orthopaedics Department at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City; Dr. Ali Alshamsi, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Head of Cardiology, and Chair of Internal Medicine Department at Tawam Hospital; Dr. Shamsa Abdul Mannan Al Awar, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Tawam Hospital; and Dr. Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer at SAKINA Mental Health and Well-being Services.

In collaboration with healthcare specialists across Abu Dhabi, DoH aims to further strengthen its regulatory framework and empower healthcare professionals to
shape the future of healthcare in the emirate. This initiative aligns with DoH’s overarching goal of maintaining the physical and mental well-being of the community through comprehensive and agile healthcare services.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 campaign has received a positive response from the community and the targeted groups in particular.

This shows how effective MoHAP’s awareness campaigns have been, in partnership with key stakeholders, in emphasising the importance of survey results for public health and quality of life in the country.

By using accurate data and solid scientific evidence to shape health policies and programs, these efforts will boost overall health and well-being.

The National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 aims to update the population’s health database and assess health performance indicators. It involves gathering field data through an approved methodology to reflect the current health landscape in the UAE.

The data gained will support decision-makers in developing policies and strategies, measuring health and nutrition indicators, and guiding state-level health planning in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031′ vision.

The Ministry is conducting the survey in
collaboration with strategic partners, including the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, health authorities, and local statistical centers across the UAE. The survey also aims to collect accurate and reliable data on the health and nutrition status in the UAE.

Many community members have spoken highly of how important the National Health and Nutrition Survey is for checking individual health and improving public health, encouraging everyone to support the field survey teams and share their personal experiences.

Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector, emphasised that positive engagement in the survey is key to collecting important data. This data helps create effective strategies to enhance public health and improve the quality of life for everyone.

Dr. Al Rand noted that the cooperation and enthusiasm shown by participants showcase the UAE’s social responsibility values. It also highlights the importance of the partnership between the governm
ent and the public in achieving sustainable development goals in healthcare.

For her part, Dr. Alia Zaid Harbi, Director of the Statistics and Research Center at the Ministry, urged all members of society to positively engage with the national health campaign, adding that sustained collaboration strengthens the capacity of health authorities to address challenges and promote public health standards.

Dr. Harbi stressed that the survey covers a wide range of health and nutrition indicators. This includes socio-economic factors, household spending on health, rates of non-communicable diseases and risk factors, biophysical measurements, access to healthcare, micronutrient deficiencies, dietary intake, child growth indicators, and the health of pregnant women.

She reaffirmed that the ministry and its partners are committed to keeping the collected data confidential, using it solely for statistical and research purposes. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has developed precise data collection methods in line
with international standards.

The survey is conducted through personal interviews during field visits, using electronic questionnaires approved by the World Health Organisation and local health authorities. These questionnaires are available in Arabic, English, Hindi, and Urdu to ensure comprehensive data collection from all community segments.

The National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 aims to reach a large sample size of 10,000 households for both the health and nutrition surveys, with 40 percent citizens and 60 percent residents. Additionally, it will include 2,000 individuals from workers’ accommodations. The target age groups are elderly individuals, adults over 18 years old, females aged 15 to 49, pregnant women, and children from birth to 17 years old.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BERLIN: Germany is donating 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to African countries affected by the disease, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin on Monday.

In the medium term, Germany, together with European partners, will also support the African Union in setting up local vaccine production, German news agency dpa quoted Hebestreit as saying.

According to the information provided, the exact method by which the vaccine will reach the affected regions has not yet been finalised.

A mobile laboratory for detecting the virus will be delivered to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Experts are being trained to recognise the symptoms of the disease and educate the population about preventive measures.

The WHO recently declared the highest level of alarm due to mpox outbreaks in Africa and a new, potentially more dangerous variant. In addition to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and neighbouring countries are also affected.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BRUSSELS: Belgium has reported over 1,192 cases of bluetongue virus affecting livestock.

The Belgian Health Authority indicated that the bluetongue virus is spreading rapidly across the country, with cases rising from 874 last week to 1,192 this week.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) has recommended vaccinating cattle and sheep.

Belgium had been free of bluetongue for a long period, but an outbreak was discovered in a small sheep farm in October 2023. Prior to this, the virus had been spreading quickly in the Netherlands, and now France is also affected, though it poses no threat to humans.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SEOUL: Eleven mpox cases have been reported so far this year in the Republic of Korea, but all detected cases were the less deadly Clade II variant, health authorities said Monday.

Yonhap News Agency quoted the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as saying that the latest case was reported this month, adding that health authorities have bolstered screening at borders to cope with the deadly new variant.

Korea reported 151 mpox cases last year.

Earlier this month, the KDCA decided to redesignate mpox as an infectious disease subject to border screening.

Source: Emirates News Agency

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the consequences of a new wave of cholera outbreaks in Sudan due to factors such as floods, water pollution, and poor hygiene and sanitation in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and local communities.

Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan, stated at a press conference held today, Friday, in Geneva that within one month of the first suspected cases being reported, 658 cases of infection and 28 deaths have been recorded across five states, with an increase in the death rate by 4.3 percent.

He highlighted that among the five states, Kassala recorded the highest number of cases, with 473 infections, followed by Al Qadarif with 110 cases, and Gezira with 51 cases. Meanwhile, Khartoum and the Nile River states reported smaller numbers.

Dr. Sahbani noted that these cases are not linked to the previous cholera outbreak declared in September 2023, which technically ended in May 2024.

He emphasised that the WHO is working
closely with federal and state health ministries to coordinate the response to the cholera outbreak, including prepositioning cholera kits and other essential medical supplies in high-risk states in anticipation of risks associated with the rainy season.

Dr. Sahbani stressed the need for the organisation and its partners to have safe and unhindered access to all affected areas to respond effectively to the cholera outbreak, along with sustainable financial support to address the increasing health needs resulting from diseases, malnutrition, natural hazards like heavy rainfall and floods, and direct threats of war.

He mentioned that of the US$178 million required for the entire health response within the Sudan Response Plan for 2024, only 42.7 percent has been funded as of August 2024, limiting the ability of partners to scale up and address the needs.

Source: Emirates News Agency

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the consequences of a new wave of cholera outbreaks in Sudan due to factors such as floods, water pollution, and poor hygiene and sanitation in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and local communities.

Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Sudan, stated at a press conference held today, Friday, in Geneva that within one month of the first suspected cases being reported, 658 cases of infection and 28 deaths have been recorded across five states, with an increase in the death rate by 4.3 percent.

He highlighted that among the five states, Kassala recorded the highest number of cases, with 473 infections, followed by Al Qadarif with 110 cases, and Gezira with 51 cases. Meanwhile, Khartoum and the Nile River states reported smaller numbers.

Dr. Sahbani noted that these cases are not linked to the previous cholera outbreak declared in September 2023, which technically ended in May 2024.

He emphasised that the WHO is working
closely with federal and state health ministries to coordinate the response to the cholera outbreak, including prepositioning cholera kits and other essential medical supplies in high-risk states in anticipation of risks associated with the rainy season.

Dr. Sahbani stressed the need for the organisation and its partners to have safe and unhindered access to all affected areas to respond effectively to the cholera outbreak, along with sustainable financial support to address the increasing health needs resulting from diseases, malnutrition, natural hazards like heavy rainfall and floods, and direct threats of war.

He mentioned that of the US$178 million required for the entire health response within the Sudan Response Plan for 2024, only 42.7 percent has been funded as of August 2024, limiting the ability of partners to scale up and address the needs.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BRUSSELS: The bluetongue virus has now been detected in 874 locations in Belgium, according to figures published on Tuesday by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC).

This is a sharp increase compared to last Monday, when 501 outbreaks were counted.

But the spread of the virus is in line with expectations, said FASFC spokeswoman Hélène Bontea quoted by Belga News Agency. “We are certainly expecting an increase in infections this summer – possibly even in September and October,” she said. “From late autumn to early spring, when temperatures are below 10 degrees Celsius and the vector (mite) is not active, no new cases are usually detected.”

The virus has mainly affected sheep (485 cases) and cattle (382 cases), but three goats and four alpacas have also been infected. The FASFC still strongly recommends that animals be vaccinated.

Bluetongue is only dangerous to animals. The virus causes a blue tongue, high fever and swelling in cattle. The virus is transmitted by the bite of very smal
l mosquitoes. Sheep in particular become very sick and can die. In goats and cattle, the disease is often less severe.

Source: Emirates News Agency