Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Patron of Hamdan Medical Award, and with the participation of the World Health Organization, the activities of the 1st Non-Communicable Diseases Congress in the UAE was concluded. At the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City, the conference was organized by Hamdan Medical Award in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Health, Dubai Health Authority, Abou Dhabi Health Authority, Emirates Diabetes Society, Emirates Cardiac Society, Emirates Society of Nephrology, Emirates Respiratory Society and the Oncology Services, Mafraq Hospital.

 

The conferees recommended the importance of supporting the international and regional cooperation with the World Health Organization to control the non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cancers, cardiac diseases, kidney and respiratory diseases, through supporting the WHO in the implementation of its related preventive programs, training and applied research and awareness programs.

 

Among the recommendations of the conference was the activation of the national strategy aiming at reducing the non-communicable chronic diseases rates, and the studies and programs previously adopted by the cabinet in that regard.

 

Prof. Najib Al Khaja, Secretary General of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and President of the Conference said: The conference recommended the formation of a national committee to unify the efforts exerted to control the non-communicable diseases and their causes, to be comprised the UAE’s health authorities, the strategic partners and the UAE societies, as well as establishing a nationwide system to monitor, follow-up and evaluate such diseases.

 

“The conferees recommended the application of the health legislation aiming at reducing the risk factors leading to the non-communicable diseases, such as the tobacco control law, the issuance of new legislations to reduce the obesity and encourage physical activities as well as supporting the awareness programs about the importance of following a healthy lifestyle to be directed to the whole segments of the society, particularly the school students”, Al Khaja said.

 

“Through the vital communication with a big number of doctors and specialists from the UAE healthcare sector, how to protect patients with a non-communicable disease from the other NCDs which have the same risk factors was one of the main issues discussed during the conference”, Al Khaja added.

 

“Unifying efforts exerted by the UAE concerned authorities is important to reduce the incidence of these diseases, whose burdens are expected to be increased on individuals, families and communities within the coming years. 

 

“I am so optimistic about supporting the preventive ways against the non-communicable diseases within the near future especially after the adoption of the Kuwait document on 08.01.2014 by the GCC Ministers of Health entitled "together to combat the non-communicable diseases, a developmental priority". The adoption of such a document facilitates the enactment of legislation and laws and applying effective interventions to prevent the risk factors leading to the NCDs”, Al Khaja said.