Dubai Healthcare City to Support Arabian Public Health Forum 2010 in Abu Dhabi

Wednesday, Oct 06, 2010

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it is one of the supporting partners of the Arabian Public Health Forum, the only event of its kind in the region that seeks to engage key stakeholders to reduce the health, social and economic impacts of chronic diseases.

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it is one of the supporting partners of the Arabian Public Health Forum, the only event of its kind in the region that seeks to engage key stakeholders to reduce the health, social and economic impacts of chronic diseases.

To be held from 11-12 October at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Arabian Public Health Forum 2010 will bring together key stakeholders to explore strategic approaches for combating Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) among GCC countries and to understand what public health initiatives can be implemented for Arab countries in both the short and long term.

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Executive Director of Dubai Healthcare City, said: “Chronic illnesses such as heart and respiratory diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes are by far the leading causes of mortality in the world, representing 60 per cent of all deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In the UAE, the high rate of chronic diseases have been widely reported and there is great effort by both the public and private sector to engage the community in making lifestyle choices that will help reduce the incidence of such diseases.

“This issue is a shared one and forums such as this seek to facilitate important discussion and collaboration on the promotion, prevention, treatment and care associated with chronic diseases. Dubai Healthcare City is founded on the principles of patient care and quality healthcare. Therefore, it is vital that we support and participate in dialogue with key partners to improve the health of our community.”

Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman of MEED Events, organisers of the event, said: “Arabian Public Health Forum is the only event of its kind in the region to not only address the prevalence and prevention of non-communicable and chronic diseases from a multi-stakeholder point of view, but to focus on achieving outcomes. This region, in particular, attributes the majority of its health-related deaths to chronic diseases. As a result, a major focus has been placed on developing public health initiatives to combat and prevent the occurrence of these diseases.

“Arabian Public Health Forum 2010 is all about achieving outcomes. Through regional cooperation and collaboration between the health and non-health professionals, the possibilities are endless.”

As well as being a platform for high-level speakers and critical discussion, the Arabian Public Health Forum 2010 will present case examples of public health programmes in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan from the respective country’s health ministries. It will also examine public health measures being undertaken from all aspects of the society including health ministries, sports councils, food authorities, hospitals and universities.

Within the past seven years, DHCC has grown into a cluster of over 90 outpatient medical centres and diagnostic laboratories as well as more than 100 commercial healthcare and retail services. Two of its hospitals are currently JCI accredited.