Largest Diabetes Centre In Dubai To Open Soon

11 Dec 2012

The Dubai Health Authority will soon open the new Dubai Diabetes Centre, the largest specialised centre of its kind in the emirate, said a top official.

Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, said the centre would provide multidisciplinary diabetes care and management for children and adults.

The new centre located on the 2nd of December Street will be the largest specialised diabetes centre in the emirate. “The new centre is 20,000 sq ft, which is almost four times the size of the current centre and it is double in capacity,” he said. Once operational, the services provided at the current diabetes centre on the Latifa Hospital premises will be shifted to the new centre.

Dr Hamed Farooqi, Director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre, said the highlight of this centre was that the DHA would introduce paediatric endocrinology services. “Paediatric endocrinology is a highly specialised field that caters to complete endocrinological care for children. We will provide diabetic care and management for children under the age of 18 years,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Laila Al Jasmi, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy Sector, recently raised awareness on the vital role proper exercise routines have to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Speaking at the ‘Exercise is Medicine’ health forum, Dr Laila said, “As the authority further develops its strategy to ensure patients in the UAE are receiving the best in healthcare practices, we are committed to ensuring all medical practitioners in the UAE to include physical exercise as part of the prescription to prevent and manage lifestyle diseases.”

Dr Fathia Hatem Al Maazmi, Head of Health Promotion, spoke about the correlation between an active and healthy lifestyle and combating diseases. She also recommended participants to have 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every week to help combat chronic diseases.

Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?xfile=/data/nationhealth/2012/December/nationhealth_December23.xml&section=nationhealth