Ayman Hanbali: “We have increased our retail space to 55,000 sq ft in last  18 months”

Superbrands Event

Dubai, UAE, 28th August, 2010: BinSina Pharmacy has been announced a UAE Superbrand for the third time in a row. The 45-year-old brand was the only retail pharmacy brand to be given this recognition.

“We are honored to be recognized as a UAE Superbrand. When BinSina Pharmacy opened in 1965 in Nasser Square in Dubai, no one ever imagined that this brand would evolve into the UAE’s leading pharmacy chain. In fact, it was the first ever licensed pharmacy in the Dubai. From just 12 staff members to the present strength of 250 employees spanning 16 different nationalities, the company has grown from strength to strength. The very fact that the pharmacy has increased its retail space by 54 percent in the last 18 months to 55,000 square feet is one proof of the vitality of the brand,” said Ayman Hanbali, Marketing Manager, BinSina Pharmacy.

Only brands that achieve the level of recognition set by the Superbrands Council are eligible for inclusion in the Superbrands UAE book, which traces the history and achievements of each of the winning brands. Superbrands is an independent organization which hosts the annual tribute event to recognize the UAE’s best brands.

BinSina Pharmacy succeeded to become the ultimate health and beauty destination for UAE consumers, providing the most extensive range of health, beauty and skin care products.

As the oldest pharmacy operator in the Dubai, the pharmacy’s success is founded on customer loyalty garnered through the years.  BinSina has five million customers visiting its pharmacies each year and serve up to 14,000 customers a day.

Hanbali added: “BinSina is a locally grown business with international standards, 21st century branding with local heritage and flavour.

The differentiating factors that help in providing an excellent service are the locations of BinSina pharmacies, which are carefully selected on the basis of accessibility, availability of medicines, selection of non-prescription items, hours of operation, professional and customer-friendly service.

A study by the World Bank projects growth in the Healthcare sector to reach USD 60 billion by 2025 which stresses on the vital need of Digital awareness in the sector

August 28, 2010

Healthcare poster

ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) program in the Gulf region and Iraq, is launching a new awareness campaign with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to highlight the importance and impact of IT skills in the healthcare sector. ICDL GCC Foundation pointed out that investments in IT by healthcare institutions have increased significantly in line with the sustained growth of the GCC’s healthcare industry, which according to a study by the World Bank has been projected to reach a value of USD 60 billion by 2025.

According to several independent studies, in 5 years time employers expect less than 10% of jobs to be available to individuals without ICT skills, regardless of role or industry. Campaigns like this build on the continuing partnership between ICDL GCC Foundation and DHA, which was initiated in 2008 to efficiently integrate IT elements into DHA’s programs and expand the technology proficiency of its staff in different areas. Th joint effort between them involves the promotion of digital skills through the hanging of posters within DHA facilities that include messages about the significance of digital awareness on the job and in personal life.

The Healthcare Sector depends on a wide range of applications and advances in technology which help ensure that healthcare services are of high quality, safe and are more responsive to the patients’ needs. In addition, potential benefits include increased quality and efficiency of care, reduced operating costs of clinical services, reduced administrative costs, and introduction of entirely new modes of care.
 
Dr. Khalil Kaed, Director of Medical Education Department, DHA, said: ” The Dubai Health Authority has worked throughout the years to continuously and efficiently develop its medical and administrative staff to guarantee the quality and standards of the management processes of health care services available through hospitals and affiliated health centres, and as a natural result of the technological advancements we are experiencing everyday in the Healthcare Sector, the ICDL program comes along to play a major role in  spreading IT awareness and raising the efficiency of all workers within the Authority to use the computer and its applications in accordance with international standards that have proven success “.

“The launch of the internal IT awareness campaign in collaboration with ICDL GCC Foundation is to urge the DHA staff, who were unable to establish or develop their skills in information technology to do so, which will consequently serve the DHA plan to increase efficiency and improve services provided to live up to the global standards that we are seeking” he added.

Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation, said: “We pride ourselves on the partnership with DHA and its efforts as the second governmental service department in the Emirate of Dubai in terms of number of staff, to develop computer skills and elements of information technology in the health care sector. The belief in the importance of efficient data exchange between health care units, progress in the technical devices used in the same area, and the flow of medical diagnoses information available online and accessible to patients, present a clear case as to why healthcare workers must be technologically savvy and aware”.

The awareness initiative is in line with the directions of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Dr. Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health, to qualify and train administrative and medical personnel on basic information and communications technology skills, to improve and develop healthcare quality using efficient IT systems and practices, and to computerise medical information and consequently advance patient monitoring and treatment.

Many countries around the world have launched initiatives to enhance digital literacy in their health sector. The United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS), the third largest employer in the world after the Chinese Army and the Indian Railways, adopted ICDL as the reference standard for basic digital skills in 2001. NHS found it imperative that digital literacy of its staff was central to the success of its digitization efforts and for them to adapt quickly to new IT and information systems and get quicker, easier access to the information they need to support patient care. Over the past 6 years, around 600,000 out of the 1.3 million NHS employees have enrolled in the ICDL Program.

THE Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has formed a special technical committee to monitor its training programmes.

The training disciplinary committee, set up under the DHA’s department of medical education, will coordinate, implement and monitor all modes of education and training activities in various medical specialties, said a senior health official.

Director of Medical Education at the DHA Dr Khalil Khaed said that the committee will provide advice and support on implementing the training programmes for the authority’s employees.

“The training plans will focus on refreshing professional knowledge with updated information in the specialised streams of the employee,” he added.

“All the training sessions will run in compliance with the regulations and guidelines of the medical education department, in addition to providing annual reports on the evaluation of the internship by the committee,” elaborated Dr Khaed.

He pointed out, “The department has also formed more supervisory committees for the specialties of internal medicine, pharmaceuticals, gynecology and obstetrics.” According to him, more details in regard to this will be announced later on.

Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority answers your questions on eating habits in Ramadan

Half of the fasting month has passed. The inspectors from Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) have been on overdrive over the past two weeks, leaving nothing to chance to ensure food safety for consumers.

“We have also intensified our food safety campaign, aimed at raising the levels of consumer consciousness among people”, ADFCA said.

The authority calls upon all people in the emirate of Abu Dhabi to protect public health through attaining maximum food safety. “Our success in this endeavour depends a good deal on the extent to which consumers apply discretion and care in purchasing, transporting, storing and supplying food products,” the authority said.

“We received a number of questions from the readers, asking about various aspects of food safety. Some of the questions, however, related to issues of nutrition and health care, which we would not take up for they are outside our brief,” the authority said.

What is the best and most recommended food to be eaten during suhour?

The main consideration is to consume foods that are rich in fibre content and vitamins, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and wholegrain bread. The need for high water content goes without saying. May we refer Ahmad to the first issue published last Tuesday, which contained a more detailed description of these issues.

When we cook or fry chicken franks, the cover comes out as a layer, which can be separated from what is inside it. Does this cover contain much cholesterol? I fry it in a minimal amount of oil and do not deep-fry.

Franks do have a certain amount of saturated fat in them. Deep-fried or shallow-fried, the fat in the product remains the same, with the oil used in frying adding to it substantially. The point is to minimise consumption of fatty foods and guard against high cholesterol and other complications.

What are the food risks that can and cannot be identified through the senses?

This is a very important question. While it is easier to make up our minds on the basis of what is clear to our naked eyes, it is a tough call for ordinary people to sense food risks that are not apparent in any way.

Some risks appear in the form of tangible changes that a sensible person can identify through the senses. For example, swelling in the packaging, the presence of a foreign body in the food, change in the texture, taste, smell or flavour of the food such as the smell of kerosene, microbial growth, a change in the consistency of the food material with unusual increase in the degree of viscosity than usual or any other changes that make you suspicious or reject it. Besides, the consumer can also get some information from the food labels, such as the presence of any material that may cause allergy or difficulty to him or his family members.

There are also risks caused by excessive consumption of products that contain additives that are permissible but need to be consumed in quantities consistent with the weight of the consumer. Some such products, if consumed in excess, might expose the consumer to potential risks.

There are hidden dangers that may not affect the smell, texture, consistency and colour of the food. You will not be able to see them with your eyes. Radioactive pollutants; pesticide residues; veterinary drug residues; metal contaminants; microbes and their toxins and all the other toxins and contaminants that could enter food items fall in this category. These risks are mitigated through effective quality control programmes by ADFCA and other food control agencies in the country, targeting the production and sale of food as well as through inspection of foods available in markets.

Tips on selection

Organise your purchase list: Put frozen and refrigerated food items in the bottom of your purchase list so that they remain outside the ideal conditions of preservation for the shortest possible duration.
Choose food items on the basis of how they appear at the time of sale: While choosing unpacked items, such as fruits and vegetables, the decision has to be on the basis of the consumer’s satisfaction about their conditions at purchase as well as the time of their eventual use. The point is to make sure they remain healthy till the time you consume them.
Avoid buying green potatoes
Do not buy cut fruit or salads if they are kept at room temperature, unless they have been prepared in front of your eyes. This applies to all foods whose safety is dependent on the temperature at which they are stored, such as ready to eat foods, eggs, fresh chicken, fish, meat etc.
Do not buy foods found in airtight or swollen packages.
Expiry dates are not fully reliable because foods remain healthy till the expiry date only if they are preserved in the required conditions of temperature and humidity. 
What are the precautions that one should take while buying bottled or tinned foods?

Choose bottled foods that can be stored in room temperature. Examples are long-term milk or juices for school students or travellers that can be preserved in room temperature for a long time.
Before making up your mind on buying any bottled or tinned foods, read the information given on the food label with utmost care and make informed and conscious decisions.
Store bottled or tinned foods as per the instructions on the food label.
There are many websites that explain the information on food labels. There are also specifications and criteria in regard to food labels issued by UAE Authority for Standardisation and Metrology. The Authority’s website is: www.esma.ae

Benefits of active life highlighted ahead of Ramadan tournament

Abu Dhabi: Exercise can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 58 per cent, a Consultant Endocrinologist at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) said yesterday.

During a meeting to announce the third Ramadan Football Tournament, which the ICLDC launches yearly as an alternative to preventive medicine for potential diabetics, Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, Medical and Research Director at the ICLDC and Consultant Endocrinologist, stressed that dieting without exercise does not fully protect a person from developing diabetes.

“Brisk walking for 30 minutes a day reduces a persons chances of developing diabetes, that’s why it’s terribly important for people to remain active throughout the year.

“I noticed that the minute students leave their schools and universities, and take up office jobs, they give up exercising. That’s why we’re launching this tournament, to encourage physical activity for the rest of society,” said Dr Barakat.

Latest diabetes figures published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) paint grim global pictures, indicating that people in low and middle-income countries bear the brunt of an epidemic, and that the disease is affecting far more people of working age than previously believed.

Recent IDF figures cited by Dr Maha suggest that 285 million people globally live with diabetes, with five GCC countries featured in the top eight countries in terms of diabetes prevalence. The UAE stands as the second highest diabetes prevalence world-wide, with an estimated 18.7 per cent of the population aged 20 to 79 affected by the condition.

Preventable

“There are approximately 85 to 90 per cent type 2 diabetics across the UAE, and 10 to 15 per cent type 1 diabetics, and diverse number of people unaware that they have diabetes. However the good news is that 80 per cent of type 2 diabetes is preventable with increased physical activity and a healthy diet,” said Dr Maha.

In partnership with Mubadala Healthcare, with the ICLDC’s mission to draw public attention to the importance of regular exercise, the five-night “Play Sports. Live Healthy” football tournament, known as “Diabetes. Knowledge. Action” will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) for the first time since its launch.

“It’s ideal to have the tournament indoors this year due to the hot weather. Also the nearby ADNEC Ramadan Festivals will encourage passers-by to come watch the tournament, and ask as many diabetes related questions as they wish,” said Dr Maha.

In addition, Suhail Al Ansari, Associate Director, Mubadala Healthcare and Chairman of ICLDC, announced that the Al Ain Diabetic Centre is due to open its doors to the public by next year.

“Currently 18 to 20 per cent of ICLDC patients commute from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi to receive medical care.For that reason, Mubadala Healthcare has decided to increase their live healthy outreach in a five and a half thousand square metre diabetic centre, to be located next to Tawam Hospital, with 65 medical staff ready to assist up to 150 patient visits each day,” said Al Ansari.

Tournament: event timings

16 participating teams
9:30pm to 12 midnight nightly leagues at the ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre)
August 22nd to 26th - Ramadan Football Tournament at the ADNEC
August 26th - Semi-finals and finals
Treatment of patients

28,000 diabetes patients have received medical treatment from ICLDC since 2006
The ICLDC has reached out to 80,000 patients through its public health awareness campaign since 2006
200 to 300 patients a day - average number of patient visits to the ICLDC Abu Dhabi a day

A recent study by the Dubai Health Authority disclosed that 75 per cent of the low-income expatriates in Dubai lacked coverage of health insurance.

Almost three-quarters of Asian and Arab expats living in the emirate suffer due to the non-coverage of health insurance schemes, revealed the Dubai Household Health Survey.

A panel of healthcare industry leaders based in Dubai discusses the shocking observation of the survey that many expatriates do not seek treatment on time and neglect their conditions due to the higher healthcare costs.

They criticised the negative attitude of many establishments on provision of health coverage to employees and their families, even though the health insurance schemes are much cheaper than in the US or Europe.

“The economic reality of the employees should be considered by the employer and the government,” the experts opined.

A huge disparity is obvious between the low and high-income groups in enjoying the benefits of quality and transparent healthcare services in Dubai.

“The question of unaffordability of healthcare by people in the lower socio-economic strata has to be answered by refining the general assumption on healthcare provision to different brackets of the people,” said Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of DM Healthcare in Dubai.

“The discrimination is, basically, not because of the unavailability of the healthcare. It turned out like this due to the ignorance of corporate groups or companies on the wellness of their workers,” he pointed out.

The emirate of Abu Dhabi has a mandatory health insurance programme for all companies’ employees and their families.

Dr Nawab Shafi ul Mulk, chief of Global Hawk Telemedicine Services in Dubai, pointed out that Dubai has yet to enforce the laws that make it compulsory for all workers to have a health cover.

“The emirate had planned to introduce universal health coverage in January 2009, requiring every employer to pay a set fee to the government for each employee,” he said.

 “This money would have been used to provide employees with ‘free access to basic health care.’ However, this scheme has yet to be introduced.”

Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Gulf Medical University and Hospital, the first private teaching hospital in the UAE, said that the healthcare sector required a massive change in the outlook of planning to cater to the needs of the low-income groups.

“All the hospitals and clinics should subsidise the prices to cater to the masses. The healthcare service providers play a major role in alleviating the worries faced by the low-income group,” he added.

Dr KP Hussain, Managing Director and CEO of Fathima Healthcare Group, pointed out that most of the corporate groups in Dubai provide medical insurance to only employees in the managerial level.

“Less-paid staff members are not given any support by the employers, while budgeting plans of corporate firms allot annual insurance premium of Dhs2,000 to Dhs3,000 per staff in the managerial level,” he said.

Dr Moopen pointed out that it’s the responsibility of the employer to cover decent basic healthcare, except luxury treatments like cosmetic procedures.

“Each employer already has to invest around Dhs10,000 on each employee’s visa costs. Adding an additional Dhs1,000 on their insurance coverage is not a big deal at all,” he noted.

According to him, a statutory requirement should be enforced on employers on providing workers with the health insurance coverage.

Dr Mulk suggested introduction of models for social health insurance coverage programmes, funded by both the government and the employers. “Such programmes can ensure privileges of all sorts of basic health treatments to the people from the low-income bracket and their dependants,” he added.

“The laws should come into effect as soon as possible as it will facilitate the suffering people as the medical costs are higher,” he said.

Dr Hussain elaborated, “Ten years before, many insurance companies were providing medical services to corporate establishments with high premium for their white collar employees. And blue collar workers were neglected due to the high cost of premium which the establishments had to pay. Hence, the lower and middle income group could not get medical coverage.”

“Many people of lower income earners were suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disorders. For treating the diseases they needed a minimum Dhs400 to 500 per month,” added the medical insurance expert.

“This scenario gave birth to the concept of providing cost-effective and comprehensive medical services for the lower and middle income groups, so they could avail the services throughout the year by paying a small premium to the insurance companies,” he noted

DUBAI // For a hospital ward, security is tight. There are two burly, uniformed guards stationed at either side of the main entrance.

The door to this section of Rashid Hospital is sealed and protected by an alarm. Beyond it, patients are hurriedly guided left or right, depending on their sex.

The patients are barely visible in their rooms, each separated from the corridor by not just one, but two sealed doors, with a sink in the space between.

Around the walls, dozens of photographs and notices sternly instruct visitors and staff to use one of the many soap dispensers.

It is necessary. Because this is the infectious disease unit.

As intimidating as it may seem, these precautions are essential to prevent the spread of some of the maladies treated here. The unit, which has been in operation for more than 25 years, admits about 600 patients each year for ailments ranging from leprosy and malaria to meningitis and HIV/Aids.

“I remember when we saw the first case of HIV,” recalls Elzy Mathew, a staff nurse.

“Everyone was a little worried, as we hadn’t seen it before. Now it’s just part of our normal work, we see it quite often.”

Because of the diversity of Dubai’s population, and the country’s role as a transit hub, diseases that have been eradicated in many other parts of the world are found in the emirate.

Last year alone, patients with leprosy, typhoid and tetanus – diseases rarely seen in western hospitals – were treated in area hospitals.

Only last week, two rooms were occupied by young Asian men who had travelled into the country with leprosy, a contagious disease now largely confined to countries such as India and Bangladesh.

The air pressure is kept low in all 22 rooms of the infectious disease unit; when the doors are opened, air flows in, but not out – an essential part of preventing cross-contamination.

Outside the door of each occupied room is a either a yellow or red warning sign.

Yellow is “contact precaution” – indicating that the disease can be transferred only by physical contact.

Red is “airborne precaution”, for patients with a disease that can be transmitted via airborne methods.

Of the 642 admissions to the unit in 2009,134 were for tuberculosis. Hepatitis (51 cases), viral meningitis and HIV (41 each) were also common.

“Some patients come in with life-threatening infections,” said Dr Laila al Dabal, who is one of the unit’s head physicians.

“A severe form of meningitis, for example, can be both fatal and highly infectious. All infections involving the brain can be fatal.”

Thanks to regular, intensive hygiene training, not one staff member has been infected since the unit opened.

The government-funded facility treats people regardless of nationality or residency status. Some have notifiable diseases, such HIV/Aids, leprosy, hepatitis and tuberculosis, meaning that their cases must be reported to governmental authorities. These patients are treated, then sent back to their home countries, along with a two weeks’ supply of medication and a detailed medical report.

“By law we have to fully manage him to make sure he is in good shape to travel home,” Dr al Dabal said.

“We don’t send sick people or people carrying active diseases home. It’s a responsibility we take when we send them home.”

The unit is split into male and female wards, and a three-bed room is used to treat acute hepatitis only, as the disease is highly contagious.

With some patients’ stays lasting for months, it is important that they feel comfortable. “Being in hospital makes anybody stressed,” said Nidal Abu Kabbah, the senior charge nurse. “Nobody is in a good psychological or emotional state because it’s a new place.

“On an isolation ward you need a wonderful team. We take precautions without hurting the patients’ feelings.

“We wouldn’t shake hands with them and immediately run and wash them, it’s insensitive. You need to take sensible precautions without upsetting or worrying anyone.”

The unit usually operates at full or just under full capacity, and during an epidemic every room is occupied. “The ward was full during the H1N1 pandemic last year,” Dr Dabal said. “There are certain times of year when things get busy.”

When the first case of swine flu arrived in the UAE the patient was admitted to the infectious disease unit at Tawam Hospital, while Rashid’s infections disease unit was put on standby.

As it emerged that countries needed to concentrate on mitigating the effects rather than containing the disease, the unit only accepted patients who had been stopped in transit at Dubai airport.

From May until December, 39 H1N1 cases were admitted to the unit. Most of the individuals had travelled from the US, Australia and Europe.

“We followed the right protocol,” Mr Kabbah said. “We were here to treat the patients from the airport, but the best thing for everyone else was to go to their local health clinic.

“When there are so many cases there is no point isolating anyone unless it is essential, like the transit passengers with nowhere to go.”

For Mr Kabbah, each patient is as important as the next, regardless of their disease or nationality. He understands the mentality of the patients and how lonely they can feel at times, especially if they do not have any visitors.

“We have the most wonderful team in the hospital and the way they communicate with the patients is great,” he said.

“You can’t make them feel disgusted. Sometimes they need company, and all the staff are prepared to give that.

“For everyone it’s a challenging and rewarding job.”

Mild labels will not help people quit smoking, according to smokers interviewed by health authorities during the pre-testing of tobacco warning images and labels in the UAE.

“Only strong emotional messages will be needed to achieve such an effect,” said smokers in a focus group of 128 people selected to take part in a qualitative study to pre-test 24 pictorial warning labels before the messages could be approved by local health authorities.

“Based on these findings we approved five images that will be used on all tobacco products in the country,” said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the UAE National Committee for Tobacco Control at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The by-law on packaging and warnings labels is expected to be passed by the year-end, following which, tobacco companies will be given six months to change the packaging of their products, said Dr Wedad.

“We have restrictions and therefore only certain kind of pictures can be used currently,” she said while commenting on the reactions of smokers interviewed. “We hope to make the message stronger in the future since we are allowed to change the pictures after every two years.”

The research was done during May-June last year in Abu Dhabi in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Health Authority, John Hopkins University and the MoH. Participants were selected from a mix of urban and suburban residents, smokers, non-smokers, male and female youngsters, and adults.

The images and corresponding health messages were designed into a mock label for cigarette packages and were affixed to cigarette packs using a variety of brands to approximate the post-implementation design. Participants voted for the picture they thought was the best to pass on the strongest message with pictures such as a father and child, sick young man in an intensive care unit and five others each receiving more than 10 votes.

Both smokers and non-smokers agreed that smoking is unhealthy and a bad habit but smokers refused to admit that this is an addiction. All interviewees thought that people smoke because of one or more of the following reasons — to socialise, entertainment with friends, relief from stress, to improve mood.

“How can I think without smoking?” was a response from a young urban male smoker from the Higher Colleges of Technology. Participants also said that some of the images addressed certain specific groups such as children, non-smokers (images depicting passive smoking), pregnant women, and women (effects of smoke on women’s skin).

Some images were considered effective for all age groups such as a heart strangled with a cigarette, affected lungs and the cigarette with a snake.

Participants also said that the images should be distributed as print material in hospitals, clubs, cafes, schools, universities and malls.

Members of the public are offered free medical check-ups and educational guidelines about healthy lifestyle habits via booths located in various shopping centres.

Abu Dhabi: Keeping one’s teeth clean to prevent dental problems and bad breath are just a few tips that health professionals plan to discuss with the community, during Ramadan under the second annual campaign titled ‘Healthy Living During Ramadan 2010′.

Members of the public are offered free medical check-ups and educational guidelines about healthy lifestyle habits via booths located in various shopping centres, namely: Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Al Raha Mall, Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall, as well as various health centres in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

Some of the health topics covered by the Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS) initiative, an Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) facility, includes blood pressure, diabetes, oral hygiene, skin care, and the harmful effects of smoking.

“AHS have organised events on health education and nutrition to promote health awareness among citizens and residents, especially during Ramadan. In addition, it provides a number of free health check-ups, and distributes booklets and brochure guides. These events are part of our commitment to provide high quality health care services as a response to the needs of the individual and society,” said Dr John Evangelista, Director of AHS.

Guidance

A group of AHS specialists will offer members of the public visiting the booths, tips and guidance on healthy food and physical fitness during Ramadan.

“A lack of oral hygiene for instance can affect different organs of the body. If a person loses their teeth, their digestion is affected. Also if someone develops a tooth infection, they stand a risk of developing heart disease. For that reason we are distributing free toothbrushes during a question and answer programme that discusses healthy lifestyle habits,” Dr Sa’ad Awale, Special Projects Manager at AHS told Gulf News.

With approximately 3,000 visitors during the campaign’s first week, and expectations of more, the AHS is stressing physical education and the importance of eating healthily, whether during or after Ramadan.

“In general, people should have five fruit servings and at least one and a half litres of fluids a day, and should not refrain from exercise because it’s Ramadan. The best exercise is brisk walking three times a week after Iftar, for as long as they can, until a person can gradually increase their walking time,” said Dr Awale.

Diabetic patients who decide to fast or exercise during Ramadan, advised Dr Awale, must consult a physician first.

“Diabetics must adjust their lifestyle habits during Ramadan, and this requires consulting a doctor, especially for those taking insulin.”

Venues: Check the Malls

- Ambulatory Healthcare Services will be providing its services through the Campaign’s booth in shopping malls during the week throughout Ramadan from 8.30pm until midnight.

- The Healthy Living During Ramadan 2010 campaign offers free health check-ups from August 11 to September 9 in Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Al Raha Mall, Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall as well as in the various health centres in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

FUJAIRAH // Around 200 vessels pass through the busy Fujairah Port each day. When crewmen on board occasionally fall sick, they rely on the staff at Fujairah Port Medical Centre, which, for the past 17 years, has been treating sailors travelling through the UAE.

On a hot Wednesday morning, a Ukrainian second engineer, Arseniy Belenky, 42, on board an oil tanker anchored off the Fujairah coast, complained to the doctor of problems with his hearing.

“I have a problem with my ear, I can’t hear anything,” he said loudly. “I will be here for two weeks before moving to Kuwait and maybe Taiwan.”

After being evaluated, he was told to speak to his employer about getting permission to travel with an escort from the clinic to Fujairah Hospital for a follow-up.

The clinic has adapted to the ever-growing port and now has around 30,000 patient files. Exclusively for seamen, its services include yellow fever vaccination, the disposal of expired medicines, chest examinations, drug and alcohol testing and on-board emergency care.

It has a radio frequency through which ships can send distress calls. If a doctor is needed on board, he must travel on a small speedboat. The journey can take up to two hours, which means in some extreme cases it is too late for the patient.

“We must go whatever the situation and weather conditions,” says Dr Mazhar Mustafa, the operations manager at the clinic. “Using the radio we can offer immediate advice, but it still takes one or two hours to reach the anchorage point.”

Dr Sajeeb Aboobaker, a medical officer at the centre, says: “Seeing a patient in the clinic is not a big issue. But if you have to go out to see a patient on the ship, there’s a lot of risk involved. I’m not a trained seaman.”

The boat is launched three or four times each month. Once on board, the paramedic is to stabilise the patient and bring him to shore as quickly as possible.

In the three years Dr Aboobaker has been at the centre, he has attended three dead-on-arrival cases.

The doctors can travel by helicopter if it is organised by the shipping agent or owner.

Many of the larger cargo ships and oil tankers anchor in Fujairah for a few months at a time. During this time the sailors are required to undertake random drug and alcohol testing, and get check-ups with the clinic doctors.

Respiratory infections, ear infections and eye and skin problems and among the common ailments. Because the sailors live in such close proximity, infections are easily spread.

Jonald Gueco, 40, and his shipmate Ed Gonzalez, 33, both from the Philippines, visited the clinic for a dental check-up during their one-month anchorage.

Mr Gonzalez, a father of two, boarded the Shell ship in Cairo after flying in from the Philippines. As an able-bodied seaman, he will spend six months on the ship followed by two months on land if there is someone to take his place.

“We have basic medical supplies on board but it is better to come to the clinic if you can,” he says. “The only bad bit was the journey to land, it was very choppy so I wasn’t well.”

Mr Gueco, the ship’s chef and a father of three, also needed a dental check-up. After he was seen by Dr Aboobaker, both arrange another appointment to see the dentist later in the month.

Despite its responsibilities, the clinic is a relatively small set-up. It employs two full-time doctors and a number of paramedics, dentists and clinical staff. It is a primary care facility, so when a more serious case comes in staff liaise with larger hospitals outside the port. If a patient requires a follow-up with a specialist, it is a complicated process. The employer needs to liaise with immigration to allow the employee to step onto UAE soil beyond the port. If allowed, the sailor then needs to be escorted by someone from the port clinic.

According to Dr Aboobaker, certain nationalities struggle to get permission unless the case is life or death.

“Iraqis are generally not able to go out,” he said. “Immigration will not allow them. Bangladeshis also face much tighter security.” He was not able to explain why.

Another major part of the clinic’s work is organising drug and alcohol tests for a ship’s crew on behalf of the employers.

The clinic employs five collection officers who travel to the ships and collect urine samples, which are usually sent to laboratories in the UK or the US, or directly to the company. The clinic does not learn of the results.

“Of course the tests have to be random, it is a major part of what we do,” Dr Mustafa says. “We sometimes do three or four collections each day. The laboratories will test for everything; cocaine, amphetamines and alcohol. Obviously narcotics are very dangerous on board, it is not that they are common, it is just essential that they are not on board.”

The clinic has plans to grow to keep up with Fujairah’s expanding trade. A priority, says Dr Mustafa, is securing a pilot and a helicopter to use for the emergency cases.

“We do what we can but it is not always easy given the circumstances,” he says. “This clinic is totally unique so we need to look at everything from a different angle.”