Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre (HMSDC) has launched a diabetes related program in the form of a national continuing medical education (CME) course called “Diabetes Update 2009”.

The HMSDC institute for postgraduate education and research, a member of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center, launched this initiative of their Diabetes 2009 campaign in collaboration with Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of Tatweer.

Approximately 25 per cent, or about 1.75 million individuals in the UAE, are affected with diabetes.

This is what experts from DHCC, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, United Arab Emirates University, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Moorfields Eye Center voiced today (March 23) in the CME course, which took place in Grand Hyatt, Dubai.

“UAE has the second highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide with 25 per cent of the population being affected,” said Dr Ajay Singh, chief academic officer of HMSDC.

“Diabetes has been an increasingly difficult medical management issue in the Emirati population,” he added.

“Kidney failure, heart disease, high blood pressure, amputations and blindness are complications of diabetes. Increasing awareness of the relationship between Diabetes Mellitus, its risk factors and complications, remains at the forefront of HMSDC’s medical education endeavors.”

Dr Ayesha Abdullah, vice president of DHCC, said: “By bringing together leading experts, we expect the course will influence policy makers and local health authorities to make the fight against diabetes a higher priority.

“We also hope that it will help healthcare professionals towards improving the quality of life of people with diabetes in the UAE."

The congress also presented the opportunity to share, at a national level, the latest scientific advances and knowledge on more practical aspects such as education, treatment and raising awareness in the field of diabetes.

The programme addressed a broad spectrum of diabetes-related issues such as basic science, clinical advances, education and care, epidemiology and public health, living with diabetes and diabetes in the UAE.

Platforms for discussion varied from state-of-the-art lectures to interact-with-expert sessions, including panel discussion and one-to-one communications.

HMSDC designated this educational activity a maximum of 6.5 CME credit hours.

The objective of HMSDC’s  Diabetes 2009 initiative is to engage professionals and the public with this important health issue but also to help develop strategies that will serve to prevent diabetes and to offer optimum healthcare and education for people with the condition. – TradeArabia News Service