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Year-long Drive to Fight Diabetes

DUBAI — The UAE Ministry of Health launched a year-long national outreach programme to educate school children, parents and caregivers to raise awareness on diabetes.

The comprehensive national campaign was rolled out on World Diabetes Day on Saturday, seeking the involvement of health institutions, corporate entities, sports organisations
and clubs.

According to senior health officials, diabetes is causing serious physical and financial repercussions on the society where a million people are considered diabetic or pre-diabetic.

Recent statistics say that 1,080 people died in 2008 in Dubai alone due to diabetes related complications.

The current direct spending of the ministry on the disease is between Dh100-200 million per year, said the Minister of Health Dr Hanif Hassan while launching the campaign
on Saturday.

“Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our society and according to national statistics the incidence of diabetes reached 19.6 per cent in 2005 and this percentage is expected to rise to more than 28 per cent by 2025 if we do not take effective preventive action to curb this epidemic,” he said.

The minister also said about one in three hospital patients were suffering from diabetes or related complications such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.

“The burden of this disease falls on individuals, family and society,”
he added.

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Chief Executive Officer of Health Policy in the ministry and president of the committee said the national campaign is of major significance especially since
the country is undergoing significant economic transformation.

“A combined effort is required to curb the disease that is having serious repercussions,” he said. “Diabetes has become a disease that affects economic development in countries around the world,” he added.

The campaign is part of UAE’s 10 year long National Diabetic Strategy.

“Sixty per cent of our strategy modelled on the GCC format has already been implemented,” said Dr Wedad Maidoor, member of the National Committee to Combat Diabetes.

The committee has also activated a national nutritional and physical activity plan and is actively working to reduce related risk factors such as obesity and tobacco use as part
of the strategy.

It also plans to launch screening and early detection methods as well as comprehensive educational campaigns for the society.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.ae