Special Features
Changing Diabetes Bus Begins UAE Tour 6th November
The changing diabetes world bus will begin its tour on 6th November from UAE under the patronage and support of the Ministry of Health. The drive will make a tour in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in coordination with NovoNordsk.Dr. Mahmood Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies at the Ministry of Health and Chair of the Higher National Committee for Diabetes, said: "The first round will begin in the gulf region from the UAE to make about 7500 early diabetes screening tests for 2500 cases in the three emirates".
Dr. Fikri explained that the main goal of the round is to raise the awareness of diabetes and its protection, enhance the role of the WHO in protecting the society from the disease, pointing out that the changing diabetes received 260.000 visitors of which 127.000 people made the early diabetes screening in 31 countries all over the globe. The tour also aims for making tests for diabetes complications such as eye diseases, glycerin levels, body mass and blood pressure.
The tour achieved great results in raising the awareness of the society in early diabetes screening, pointing out that the tests are not done to those less than 18 years old or adolescents according to the agreement with health researches ethics committee in the UAE.
Dr. Fikri added that researches and studies indicated that diabetes in enormously increasing in the UAE and the diabetes bus coincides with the celebrations of the Ministry of Health with the World Diabetes Day on 14th November to highlight and raise the awareness of the community members with the disease. Several educational brochures and awareness booklets will be distributed to the visitors explaining the causes and ways of protection.
Dr. Fikri explained that the bus will begin its tour in Sharjah on 6th November till 19th, while in Dubai from 23rd November till 6th December and in Abu Dhabi from 20th December till 4th January.
The Chairman of the National Committee for Fighting Diabetes added that the Ministry of Health provided 5 nurses and doctors to exchange bus shifts from 5 pm till 11 pm all the weekdays. Questionnaires will distributed to the visitors to acknowledge family members with healthy lifestyles, sports, dangers of smoking and other information that would prevent the dissemination of the disease. The tests also include: blood pressure, BMI, HBA1c, waist and hip circumference, cholesterol to diagnose the disease, determine its dangers and complications.
These medical tests are free for all the tents visitors in implementation of the directives of Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Health, to increase preventive medicine programs as well as the role of societal partnerships and the private sector in fighting diseases.
The changing diabetes world bus tour has been launched on 2006 by EASD in Denmark and active in more than 31 countries worldwide. The tour selected the blue circle color as a theme for the world diabetes days. A medical fully equipped car will be escorting the tour in all the places.
