Etisalat and Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) have announced a strategic alliance to improve the health of the residents of Abu Dhabi through developing and marketing a range of innovative mobile and electronic services.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Jamal Al Nuaimi, general manager – Abu Dhabi region – Etisalat, and Eng Zaid Al Siksek, CEO of HAAD, setting out a  collaboration between the two organisations.
The MoU lays out a joint vision of using technology to improve quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Under the MoU, Etisalat and HAAD will share ideas, expertise and know-how to bring together a range of technologies to help drive Weqaya, the community-wide programme addressing diabetes and the other risks for cardiovascular diseases.

The partners will design and implement targeted applications to deliver secure, confidential, accurate “Weqaya” personalised health data and information to patients across Abu Dhabi alongside specific, individual advice for living a healthier life.

The collaboration will also work towards designing and implementing disease management programs for the population at risk to effectively help prevent cardiovascular diseases, the nation’s number one cause of morbidity and mortality, a statement said.

Al Nuaimi, said: “Etisalat is delighted to partner with HAAD in our unswerving commitment to offer new age m-Health and e-Health solutions. At Etisalat, we believe that it is critical for telecom leaders to harness the benefits that mobile technology can bring to healthcare, in both sociological and economic terms. Our collaboration with HAAD will progressively aim to build on each other’s skills in analysing and interpreting the Waqaya data, and eventually design and implement a holistic patient support programme, which will encompass proactive patient reminders, disease information sharing, patient awareness and medical education solutions through innovative m-Health and e-Health applications.”

Eng Al Siksek said: “With 71 per cent of the population at risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and a projected increase of 940 CVD deaths per year by 2020, it is pertinent for the government and the health professionals to develop new and innovative ways to tackle such medical challenges for the welfare of the community. Through our strategic association with Etisalat, we endeavour to develop innovative m-health and e-health solutions towards enabling preventive care and proactive disease management.” – TradeArabia News Service