Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Decide Diabetes Programme, supported by its partners MPC, Merck Serono and Lifescan recently signed an agreement to launch a diabetes risk awareness campaign.

As part of the campaign a ‘Risk Factor Survey’ will be distributed to all the patients at DHA’s primary healthcare centres. The patients that score high results in the diabetes risk factor survey will be further diagnosed at those centers.

A special Dubai Healthcare Authority - Primary Healthcare Centers (DHA-PHC) medical team will be dedicated to follow up with patients that need further diagnosis and proper management. The result of the survey will then be shared with the public to educate and raise further awareness.

Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Saif bin Kalban, chief executive officer of the DHA-PHC, said, “We are working towards a healthier community in Dubai. As part of this approach DHA has embarked on several initiatives to tackle chronic diseases and support the society.  The implementation of this survey across our primary healthcare centres is essential so that high-risk individuals can take timely action to prevent the onset of diabetes.”

Dr Mohamed Naser Farghaly, director Health Affair Department, DHA, said, “Early detection of Type 2 Diabetes is very important and critical because this type of diabetes is preventive. This initiative will start at DHA’s Primary Healthcare Centers, and we are looking forward to extend it later on to the other medical centers across Dubai.”

“This campaign has a two-pronged approach that will be conducted by PHC assigned medical team. The first one is a non-invasive initiative that identifies through a survey the high risk individuals who might end up with type 2 diabetes in the near future.

“The second stage includes further screening for high-risk individuals and those diagnosed with the condition will be followed up by DHA’s primary healthcare professionals. It ‘s worth mentioning that this initiative reaches out to a larger community compared to randomized screening,” he added.

DHA and Decide have conducted close to 8500 blood sugar screening activities at various establishments such as hospitals, organizations and clubs in the UAE since September 2011 to raise awareness on diabetes prevention and management.

“Through Diabetes Risk Factor Awareness Campaign, we will help in raising the awareness, and specifically reaching out to those with high risks so they may probably manage their condition before it starts, said, ” Wadad Aboul Khoudoud, Decide Diabetes programme director. – TradeArabia News Service