Middle East Health eNews

Dr Ayesha Abdullah

Dr Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director of TECOM Investments’ Sciences Cluster which overseas Dubai Healthcare City has been honoured with the L’Officiel Arab Woman of the Year Award 2010 in the ‘Medicine’ category.

The L’Officiel Arab Woman of the Year award recognises the achievements of inspirational women operating in different domains including medicine, business, arts, fashion, media and charity.

Commenting on the award Dr Abdullah, said: “I feel honoured to be presented with this award. I am grateful to the jury panel and all the members who voted for me.

“This award is a result of the collective efforts of many wonderful people that include my family, colleagues and team members. The award will definitely motivate me further in my endeavour to take Dubai Healthcare City to greater heights and position it as one of the top destinations for healthcare.”

Within the past eight years, DHCC has grown into a cluster of over 90 outpatient medical centres and diagnostic laboratories, two JCI-accredited hospitals, as well as more than 100 commercial healthcare and retail services that follow stringent standards in healthcare delivery. The Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ) is the regulatory body for DHCC responsible for monitoring and upholding international best practice in healthcare quality and patient care within the free zone.

The ‘Dubai Declaration on Diabetes and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) Region’ was adopted on 12 December 2010 as part of the MENA Diabetes Leadership Forum. The two-day forum united a multi-disciplinary group of over 500 regional and international experts and decision-makers from 22 countries and territories in the MENA region (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian National Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen).

Convened to find solutions to the overwhelming burden of diabetes for individuals and families, for healthcare and social systems, the Forum culminated in the adoption of the Dubai Declaration on Diabetes and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in the MENA Region. The “Dubai Declaration” lists concrete measures aimed at reversing the trend in diabetes.

The agreement, drafted by the UAE Ministry of Health, the Executive Board of the Health Ministers’ Council for the Gulf Cooperation Council States and the World Bank, commits each country to establishing a national strategy encompassing prevention, awareness, early detection and better quality of care.

Deploring the lack of such strategies in the region, Professor Dr Tawfik Khoja, director-general of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers’ Council for the GCC States, urged all of the signatories to implement the resolutions in the Dubai Declaration.

Dr Hanif Hassan Ali Al Qassim, Minister of Health of the UAE, stressed that “addressing this pandemic is urgent and important. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes will be a burden on the region’s economies.” He also called upon the establishment of a special committee at GCC level to monitor the implementation of the Declaration.

After this important first step, the challenge of implementation begins. Professor Khoja committed to taking the Dubai Declaration to the Arab League and reconvening in December 2011 to monitor the implementation of the Declaration.

Diabetes is sweeping the MENA region, affecting an estimated 26.6 million people, imposing overwhelming demands on the region’s healthcare institutions and excessive financial burdens on its governments. As alarming as this picture is, the number of people with diabetes is expected to double to 51.7 million people by 2030.

A new and extremely promising surgical technique in open heart bypass surgery has been pioneered by The Heart Center at the American Hospital Dubai, with its first Middle East patient undergoing treatment in Dubai, in October last year. The procedure was performed at the hospital by Professor Dr Uwe Klima, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Chief Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Professor Dr Klima was also the first surgeon worldwide to use the technique on a human patient and holds the exclusive rights for the medical device and treatment in the Middle East.

Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) is widely used for the surgical treatment of diseased coronary arteries. However, as many as 50% of grafts fail within 10 years after CABG. The new surgical procedure is based on a medical device called External Saphenous Vein Stent (eSVS) – a stent-like mesh tube made of Nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy), which slides over the patient’s own saphenous vein, for two main reasons: firstly, to make the vein smaller in diameter to create a better fit for connection with the diseased coronary artery; and secondly, to protect the vein from the high blood pressure in the bypass system and consequently to protect the graft from degeneration over.

Professor Klima, who was the first surgeon worldwide to implant this device in humans in 2007 at the National University of Singapore, explains: “The greater saphenous vein is widely used as bypass material in coronary artery bypass surgery; however, because it is built as a conduit in a low blood pressure system, these veins usually degenerate over time caused by intimal thickening, dilatation and calcification of the bypasses. This usually leads to interventions or reoperations, 10 to 20 years after bypass surgery. This problem can potentially be overcome with this new technique, which is an elegant, simple and effective solution, and thus avoids the necessity of a second operation, which represents a significant benefit for patients and huge progress in this surgical field. We are very pleased to have introduced this advanced procedure into the region and all the patients treated at The Heart Center have done well.”

Professor Klima’s surgical included Dr Abdalla Elsebaey; Dr Basam Al Asad; Perfusionist, Happy Khambule; Nurses Christi and Bini; and Ahmed (cardiac anesthesia).

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for Health Policies at the MoH shakes hands with Ali Sleiman, therapeutic area manager, Diabetes, Merck Serono

The UAE Ministry of Health and Merck Serono, the drug company, have signed an agreement to provide diabetes skills training for doctors in the Emirates in an effort to address the growing epidemic of diabetes in the country.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for Health Policies at the MoH said initiative is an excellent example of public-private partnership with a common goal of improving health outcomes for UAE residents.

He said the initiative sets the stage for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists to randomly select 200 doctors to participate in phase one of the programme. The group will comprise doctors with diabetes training and those without in order to evaluate what knowledge is required, following which a curriculum will be developed to train doctors to diagnose and treat diabetes.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the UAE with with some 18.7% of the population suffering from type II diabetes according to the latest figures from the International Diabetes Foundation.

Gulf doctors have been urged to look out for steroid-induced osteoporosis in all patients taking long-term glucocorticoids for illnesses such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disorders by medical experts attending the Emirates Rheumatology Conference (ERC) in Dubai ahead of World Osteoporosis Day on October 20.   

World-renowned expert in osteoporosis, Professor David Reid, Head of the Division of Applied Medicine at the University of Aberdeen in the UK, told around 100 delegates attending the ‘Optimizing Osteoporosis Treatment’ symposium at ERC that all patients on long-term steroids for chronic inflammatory and allergic diseases needed to have their bone density checked for signs of bone weakness.

Recent research suggests that bone density assessment is most important in the first three months of glucocorticoid use as this is when the most rapid reduction in bone mineral density takes place, peaking at six months and then declining at a slower, steadier pace with continued use of the drugs [1]. The use of glucocorticoids approximately doubles the risk of hip fracture [2].

“Although essential for the management of chronic inflammatory and allergic diseases, glucocorticoids have an adverse effect on bone, primarily inhibiting bone formation. Because of this patients taking the drugs are around twice as likely to develop fractures compared with patients of similar age and sex who are not on the drugs. It is essential that all such patients have their bone density assessed near the time they start treatment as part of their routine management,” explained Professor Reid.

“Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is undoubtedly a significant issue in the Gulf as many diseases that require long-term steroid use are prevalent here,” said Professor Mustafa Izzi, Consultant Rheumatologist at Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, who is Secretary General of the Emirates Osteoporosis Society.

“Unfortunately, I believe on many occasions the condition is under diagnosed and under treated and I want to urge doctors to start looking for this type of osteoporosis in all patients taking glucocorticoids, whatever their age or gender,” added Professor Izzi, who acted as chairman for the symposium which took place on October 10.

References:
[1] American College of Rheumatology 2010, Recommendations for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis: Arthritis Care and Research: Online July 26 2010. www.rheumatology.org/publications/acr/index.asp
[2] Cooper C, Coupland C, Mitchell M. Rheumatoid fracture. Ann Rheum Dis 1995; 54:49–52.

Wasim Akram, the legendary cricketer will take part in Dubai's Beat Diabetes walkathon in November

The Landmark Group, one of the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerates, is sponsoring the ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon for the second year, and this year they have expanded the event to five other countries – Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and India, in addition to the UAE, where the campaign will host walkathons and free blood glucose screening throughout November.  

Vipen Sethi, CEO, Landmark Group, said: “Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate across the globe. When we reviewed the research figures about its impact on this region last year, we realised that a high percentage of the individuals who are living with Type-2 diabetes are not even aware of the fact that they are suffering from this condition. This prompted us to take up the cause and help spread awareness about diabetes.

“As a retail network of over 900 stores across 15 markets, we realised it is also our responsibility to communicate to our customers the need for regular medical check-ups, adopting the right lifestyle and help increase awareness levels in the community. At this stage, we are focused on relaying this message through partnerships with specialist organisations and like-minded corporations.”

Wasim Akram, legendary cricketer and an international spokesperson for diabetes, said: “It is good to see Landmark Group taking the initiative to continue the ‘Beat Diabetes’ campaign to the second year. I will join the ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon’ in Dubai on 12 November, and urge everyone in the community to come forward to support this cause. Awareness is the first step in the battle against this condition”

Wasim’s personal battle with diabetes has been a source of inspiration to several individuals. The role model cited his disciplined lifestyle and a concerted effort to observe a healthy diet as the key factors that have helped him cope with the disease.

Sunita Teckchand

The Holistic Institute, a completely new concept in complementary health education, will open its doors in Jumeira Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE, on 1 October 2010, offering IFPA (International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists) accredited courses in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Anatomy/Physiology and Therapeutic Massage.

Sunita Teckchand, the Principal Tutor of the Holistic Institute, is a fully qualified holistic therapist and trainer in alternative therapies. She has worked in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for many years and has in-depth experience in conducting workshops in Aromatherapy, Jin Shin Jyutsu self-help classes, life empowering classes and other areas of CAM.

The concept of the Institute is to ‘Inspire excellence, leadership and wisdom in complimentary health education and self-development’. Their core values are Excellence, Professionalism, Teamwork, Ethical Standards and an open door policy between students and tutors.

The Holistic Institute will offer 45 different courses set up to suit individual needs – whether it is an academic career, or simply for self-empowerment and life change.

As well as offering academic courses, the Holistic Institute will offer more than 45 self-empowering short courses in Bach Flower Remedies, Reiki, Beautiful Skin with Aromatherapy, Shiatsu, Back Massage, Foot Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Iridology, First Aid with Essential Oils, Beautiful Hair with Aromatherapy, Introduction to Feng Shui, Mental & Emotional care with Essential oils, Face Reading, Self Help Jin Shin Jyutsu classes, and many more.

The institute will collaborate with a range of foreign and local teachers and consultants to provide the wide range of courses.

Workshops
Several workshops are planned including ‘Life Transformation’ workshops, such as ‘Power to Love’ commencing 30 September for 3 days; ‘A New Beginning’ on 8-9 October by the One World Academy and recommended by Anthony Robbins; and ‘Transcending Conventional Healing Methods’ by world renowned healer Anita Moorjani, who will talk about her Near Death Experience.

• The Holistic Institute is having a free open day on 10 October with the official opening ceremony at 10am. Throughout the day there will be a series of inspirational talks. The day will draw to a close with a mass meditation at 7.30pm.  All are welcome to attend. Register at the website www.theholisticinstitute.org after the site’s launch on 15 September.
• Contact Sunita on sunita@theholisticinstitute.org for further information.

The American Hospital Dubai (AHD) has begun using its new In-patient Bed Tower, with the opening of the first of the facilities to be located there. The 7-storey, 240 patient bed facility is now home to the newly designed and refurbished Total Joint Replacement Regional Center of Excellence on the fifth floor.

A new 20-bed maternity unit (labour and delivery) will open shortly, with its eight delivery suites, two c-section rooms, 10-bed neonatal ICU (intensive care unit) and a well-baby nursery. AHD says the new facility will be fully occupied and operational before the end of 2010.

The In-patient Bed Tower is the latest in a series of developments being undertaken by the hospital and follows the opening of a new outpatient clinic building, which resulted in a doubling of the medical staff at the hospital.

The JCI-accredited hospital is undergoing several other renovation projects including seven new Emergency Department treatment exam rooms which will constitute a new ‘Urgent Care Service’.