Success stories document national achievements that support medical knowledge and enrich the National Archives

   
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 17, 2022: As part of its participation in the UAE Month of Reading 2022 under the slogan “UAE Reads”, Dubai Health Authority announced today the launch of five publications in Arabic that document the national achievements made by the authority over the past years.

The aim of the publications is to disseminate medical information to provide a reference for researchers as well as to contribute to enriching the National Archives with distinguished medical achievements. 

The 'success stories' included documentation of a number of national achievements accomplished by Dubai Health Authority medical facilities  including the Dubai Thalassemia Centre, the Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre, the Nutrition Department and the Health Fund department.

The stories also included the successful first of-its-kind surgery in the region to separate Siamese twins that was performed in Dubai Hospital in 2002 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (May God protect him). His Highness generously covered the complete expense of the surgery. His Highness’s kind gesture helped provide the children with a better future and  an opportunity to lead a normal life without pain and suffering.

Today, a ceremony took place at the Dubai Innovation Centre, to mark the publication of these success stories. Senior DHA officials including Dr. Alawi Alsheikh Ali, Deputy Director-General of the DHA attended the ceremony. 

Siamese twin separation
The success story of the operation to separate conjoined twins (Siamese) in 2002 documented the capability of the health system in Dubai and its health professionals to perform this type of precise and extremely complex surgery. 

Professor Essa Kazim, led the medical team that performed the operation to separate conjoined twins in 2002. He reviewed the efforts, capabilities, and procedures undertaken by the medical team to accomplish this surgical procedure and save the lives of the two children.

He pointed to the outstanding success achieved by the medical team, which formed a real nucleus for building the Dubai model for advanced high-risk surgeries, and building specialized national medical teams that included highly qualified professionals to perform advanced and complex surgeries in accordance with the best international medical practices and protocols.

The success story also highlighted the personal interest of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (May God protect him) in humanitarian issues, and His Highness's confidence in the ability of the health system in Dubai to deal with this rare condition.

Dubai Thalassemia Centre
The story of the Dubai Thalassemia Centre “Hope Lights Life” documents the distinguished journey of the centre, which is one of the first centres in the Gulf region and the Arab world to provide holistic and integrated treatment for patients. It has significantly contributed to improving the quality of life of thousands of patients.

During the ceremony, Dr. Fatheya Al Khaja, Director of the Thalassemia Centre, reviewed the efforts of the centre, which adopts the best technologies and smart solutions that has contributed to increasing the average life expectancy among Thalassemia patients in the UAE to 40 years from 15 years three decades ago.

She referred to the international accreditations, quality certificates and awards obtained by the centre from various international institutions, pointing  out to the active role played by the centre in medical research. 

Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre
The story of the Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre 'Hope Lights Life' reviews the success achieved by the centre since its establishment in 2006, making the United Arab Emirates the first in the Gulf and Middle East to provide a service for collection, treatment, examination and storage of stem cells extracted from Cord blood. These cells are stored for 30 years and can be used to treat  more than 80 genetic diseases.

Dr. Hatim Al Abbas, Acting Director of the Dubai Cord Blood and Research Centre said that the centre has an advanced and specialized research infrastructure, which represents one of the most important aspects in the progress of health services in Dubai.  In line with the Dubai Health Authority’s goal the centre aims to minimize the prevalence of genetic and chronic diseases. 

He pointed out that the centre has so far contributed to the treatment of 20 cases that utilized the stored  stem cell extracted from umbilical cord blood successfully. He said so far more than 8000 stem cells have been stored. 

Health Fund

Salem Mohammed bin Lahej, Director of the Health Fund Department  highlighted that the mission and vision of this department is in line with the values of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God have mercy upon him)

He highlighted the various humanitarian activities the fund has undertaken and the success it has achieved to help patients with financial difficulties get access to treatment. 

Clinical Nutrition Department 
The Clinical Nutrition Department at the Dubai Health Authority highlighted the distinguished efforts made by the department in providing nutrition clinics across all all primary health care centres and hospitals as well as introducing specialized clinics such as the paediatric diabetes clinic, obesity surgery clinic, and gynaecological and gestational diabetes clinics.

Shaima Hussain Qayed, Acting Director of  the Clinical Nutrition Department at the DHA, said that the department was able to implement many innovative qualitative initiatives and programs to achieve customer happiness, such as the delivery of nutritional supplements and tube feeding to patients in their homes at no additional cost in line with international best practices in the field.

Khalid Al Jallaf, Director of Research, Studies and Data Analysis Department at the Dubai Health Authority, highlighted the efforts made by the DHA on the occasion of the UAE Reading Month 2022 to further strengthen a culture of science and knowledge among members of society.

 Al Jallaf said that this initiative helps provide archival content for researchers and those interested in health. He added that the DHA plans to publish these stories on a regular basis.

Al Jallaf said this initiative contributes to enriching the national archives with distinguished medical achievements that reinforce the ambitious vision of the United Arab Emirates, which places the health, safety and happiness of people at the forefront of its priorities and strategic plans.

Al Jallaf reviewed the efforts made by the Dubai Health Authority, its programs and initiatives during the UAE Month of Reading 2022, which aims to promote and spread the culture of reading and knowledge.  

Dr. Wafaa Khamis Al Nakhi, Head of the Health Research and Surveys Department at the Dubai Health Authority, highlighted the department’s efforts to conduct and publish scientific research in cooperation with prestigious academic institutions, organize dialogue sessions on scientific research issues and implement the Dubai Health Survey. She added the department has prepared and analyzed questionnaires to support organizational units with an aim of improving the quality of services provided by the authority. 

She highlighted that the department has also helped strengthen professional relations with a number of universities and international research centres to facilitate knowledge-exchange and discuss the latest advances in medicine. 

At the end of the ceremony, His Excellency Dr. Alawi honoured medical professionals who helped create these success stories for their pivotal role in developing UAE’s medical sector.