Nearly 63% of RAK teachers are obese, overweight

Ras Al Khaimah - Ras Al Khaimah gets first mobile clinic to serve residents in remote areas.

The Ras Al Khaimah medical zone has launched the first of its kind mobile clinic in the emirate to cover the growing needs of the nationals and residents, mainly in remote areas.  
Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, manager of the RAK medical zone, said the new clinic has started operations recently.  
"The mobile clinic includes a full medical cadre, along with all the tools and equipment needed to provide quality services to the public wherever they are in collaboration with the ministry of health which initiated the drive."  
Regular and comprehensive check-ups and advance examination for carcinogenic tumours are some of the services being provided, he added.  
"These are apart from the regular and vital health and diagnostic services, and first aid, all being offered under the theme 'Relax'."  
The 'mobile health care' initiative and movable clinic are in pursuance of the cabinet meetings led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dr Nuaimi underlined.
"The cabinet has called for an integral health programme to boost public health by early medical examinations to detect non communicable diseases and common cancers that can be successfully treated in their first stages."  
The project has targeted, in its first phase, the teachers of Julphar and Al Mataf schools of the RAK educational zone, he stated.  
"The mobile clinic has visited the two schools where the medical cadres provided all possible health services and checkups needed."  
These spanned heart and artery diseases, Dr Nuaimi elaborated. "These were examined by measuring length, weight, body mass, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol."  
The provided health services include detection of osteoporosis, depression, early detection of some types of common cancers, apart from breast clinical examination, and mammogram screening for possible breast cancer, he explained.  
"The teaching and administrative cadres at the two schools were also trained on the right way to conduct breast self-examination. They also underwent an examination for detecting cervical and colon cancer."  
Amena Ghanim, deputy director of the first health care department in the RAK medical zone, said the mobile clinic was a big success.
"Up to 35 teachers have benefited from our services."  
The medical examinations done showed that 62.8 percent of the teachers were suffering from obesity, she explained.  
"Up to 25.7 percent of them were suffering from minor to medium degree of depression while 42.8 percent suffered from bone problems."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com