Ramadan 2018: An hour earlier; no big change in routine

Ramadan does not bring any changes to the routine of Maisa Al Fuad Odeh, a clinical dietician at University Hospital Sharjah (UHS), except for an hour's change at the beginning of her day.
Maisa's day in Ramadan starts with a round of patients at the hospital's ICU ward where she looks at the diet charts of critical patients. She then goes on to visit other wards including the obs and gynae, pediatric and surgical wards.

The whole process takes an hour and a half, sometimes all completed at one go or done at a later time if she has to see other patients in between.
"Work is as usual for me. But now I start my day at 8am instead of 7am.
"If there are new patients, I have to assess their dietary and nutritional needs according to their medical condition. I also have to educate them and explain to them the benefits of a healthy diet," said Maisa.

For old patients, Maisa still has to follow up with them. "Their dietary needs change according to their condition and I have to explain all these to them and also tell them how they can manage their food along with the medicines," she added.

She also distributed educational material on nutrition to the patients on her daily rounds. On an average, she sees between 10-15 patients in a day.

Maisa then heads to her clinic where she prepares dietary charts for each individual patient according to what they require.

"In the clinic, I see outpatients as well or referral patients sent by other doctors," she said.

However, during Ramadan the number of outpatients drops. "This is because of a change in the eating habits of people during this month. Some do not want to diet or follow other such regimes in Ramadan."

In her normal routine, Maisa has to be at work at 7am where she has to meet with the caterers. "We have an early morning meeting where I have to again check that the kind of food being delivered to the patients is according to their needs," she said.

When it is not Ramadan, Maisa's day ends at 4.30pm as compared to an hour earlier in Ramadan.

"I reach home by 3.30pm and then take up the duties of a mother. Then I join our house help to start preparations for the Iftar, which we finishes by 7pm - just in time," she added.

• Ramadan Health
• Dubai
• Sharjah

Asma Ali Zain

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com