More than 100 surgeons, nurses, people active in the field are expected to take part in the ‘Diabetic Foot Academy’ roadshow in Jeddah, starting on May 12.

The DFA is an initiative of Smith & Nephew, the global medical technology company, with the active endorsement of the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, and the University of California, San Diego.

The professionally accredited DFA will have an increased focus on practical solutions to the very serious medical challenges posed by diabetic foot ulcers, while building awareness and education amongst health care professionals.

The DFA was launched with the very clear aim of drastically reducing the number of foot amputations in the country. In addition to the forthcoming event in Jeddah, a DFA roadshow around the kingdom is also planned, covering the Central and Eastern regions. 

The intensive and comprehensive 5-day DFA program will cover all practical aspects of the pre and post surgical treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The program has attracted a high level of participation from senior surgeons from Saudi Arabia and, for the first time in the DFA, a special day will be dedicated to nurses with a focus on wound management, said a statement.   

The Jeddah event will be co-chaired by Dr Khaled A Abdulrahman Tayeb, consultant diabetologist & endocrinologist, director of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, Al Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, who is also a member of the DFA’s international faculty. His co-chair at the DFA is one of the world’s leading experts, Professor Gerit D Mulder of the University of California San Diego, which also accredits the DFA program. 

Saudi Arabia is at the heart of a region with one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world and according to projections from the International Diabetes Federation, the problem is going to increase substantially over the next few years (from 32.8 million people in 2011 to 59.7million people in 2030, in the Middle East North Africa region).

The World Health Organisation expects that the number of diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia will grow 283 per cent between 2000 and 2030, due to changes in lifestyle and diet leading to increasing levels of obesity. Saudi Arabia has the second highest rate of diabetes in the GCC, after the UAE. In fact, the Mena region has six of the world’s top 10 countries by prevalence of diabetes, said the statement.

During the fully accredited five-day event, delegates will learn more about the latest diabetes management techniques with an emphasis on practical case work and live surgical procedures. – TradeArabia News Service