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health

KFAED Agrees on $5 million Grant to Support the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases

by rachel 7 months ago

written by rachel

In a significant move to support the Extended Special Project for the Elimination of Tropical Diseases for the period of 2024-2028, The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed a Grant Agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide a grant of USD 5 million.

The Grant Agreement was signed on behalf of KFAED by Mr. Waleed Sh. Al-Bahar, Acting Director General, and on behalf of WHO by Dr. Assad Hafeez, WHO Representative to the State of Kuwait, on the 8th December.

The project aims to control and eliminate a group of neglected tropical diseases, covering approximately 47 African countries suffering from one or more of these diseases. It will directly benefit more than 400 million people annually, providing around 750 million tablets of medicine per year. These medicines will be supplied free of charge by pharmaceutical companies, based on the project’s requirements. The World Health Organisation will oversee the technical supervision and financial management of the project through its regional office in Africa.

This grant marks the ninth collaboration of its kind between KFAED and WHO in the field of humanitarian support. Since 1994, KFAED has provided approximately USD 20 million to WHO to finance eight projects. The most recent project, “Sustaining Life-Saving Health Services in Priority Governorates” in the Republic of Yemen, concluded on April 21, 2022, with a grant of USD 3.0 million.

7 months ago 0 comments

Developing Innovation & Education

Dubai Hosts 26th International Summit on Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

The 26th International Summit on Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine kicked off this week at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event gathers participants from across 116 countries, including 3,200 professionals from around the world and the heads of 62 international research organisations, spotlighting regional health challenges.

This is the first time in 70 years that the summit is being hosted by a country outside of Europe, and is held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Supreme President of the Emirates Genetic Diseases Association, the organiser of the event.

Organisers shared that the five-day summit, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Emirates Genetic Diseases Association, serves as an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise between the global and regional scientific community, with three parallel medical conferences taking place simultaneously.

This includes the 17th Arab Union Conference for Biological Sciences, the 10th annual meeting of the Saudi Society for Clinical Chemistry, and the 8th International Conference on Genetic Disorders of the Emirates Society for Genetic Diseases.

This conference will discuss genetics, genomics, microbiome discoveries, healthy longevity, stem cells, regenerative medicine, genomics of rare diseases, artificial intelligence for global health, and genomics in virtual reality.

In his opening remarks at the summit, HE Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HBMSF, said: “This summit comes at a time when the UAE is endeavouring to promote investment in research and studies and encourage young people to innovate and research.”

Adding: “The UAE is interested in this type of investment sustainability strategy, achieving a long and healthy life and improving the quality of life, which is one of the priorities of the UAE government’s strategy.”

HE Al Qatami noted that the international event underscores the importance of exchanging expertise and knowledge and working as one team to draw a roadmap for future medicine, which seeks to achieve health and wellness for humanity.

It was shared that an overarching aim of the event is to enhance international cooperation and build strategic partnerships that promote scientific and medical development.

The conference comes to the Arab region for the first time in 70 years

He Al Qatami said the UAE’s hosting of this international conference highlights its pioneering role in organising and hosting international scientific events.

Further, HE Al Qatami stressed the importance of investing in health and prevention as the first step towards building healthy and prosperous societies, alongside the importance of supporting and encouraging scientific research and evidence-based medicine – the basis for providing quality healthcare and achieving progress in the fields of medicine, clinical chemistry and genomic medicine.

Dr Maryam Mohamed Fatma Matar, Founder and Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, explained that the 26th International Clinical and Laboratory Chemistry Summit has added several new themes, considering the context and needs of the Arab world.

Twenty per cent of the summit’s topics focus on health challenges

She continued: “At the request of the association, 20 per cent of the summit’s work and topics over the course of its days will be dedicated to discussing the health priorities and challenges of the Arab region.”

Among the new themes and topics of the event are accredited tests to estimate and examine healthy human lifespans, genetic testing and sustainability in health and solutions.

Indeed, according to Dr Matar, 4 per cent of the carbon emissions from medical laboratories are a result of the medical waste they produce.

Nine awards in the fields of genomics and artificial intelligence

Dr Matar also outlined that for the eighth consecutive year, the UAEGDA will present nine international awards in the fields of genomics, artificial intelligence and precision health during the event, with the aim of supporting the UAE’s vision of creating a world-class healthcare infrastructure.

She commented: “The awards are important in supporting research and innovation in the field of genetics, improving the quality of healthcare and raising awareness of genetic disorders.”

During the event, scientists and researchers will discuss the challenges of genetic diseases, genetic disorders, sustainability in the health system and innovation in clinical genetics, with the opportunity for scientists and researchers in the field of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine to exchange experiences and learn about the latest developments in this field, while presenting important research papers and presentations on the latest developments.

Dr Matar notes that the UAEGDA is one of the main pillars in supporting health and scientific research in the UAE, seeking to reduce the prevalence of genetic disorders and promote awareness.

Commenting on the fact that this year is the first time since 1954 that the event has been hosted outside of Europe, Dr Shaikha Al Mazrouei, Rapporteur of the event’s Scientific Committee, said: “Dubai won the bid to host the summit in Italy last year after intense competition between Arab and foreign countries, due to Dubai’s reputation as a global destination that hosts such major events, which strengthens the position of the UAE and the Arab region in the field of medical sciences.”

She noted that the event’s attendance includes participation from scientists and researchers from Arab countries, Africa, Europe, North America, Central and South America, and the Asia-Pacific region to exchange experiences and learn about the latest medical advances in laboratory tests, clinical treatments, and diagnostic methods using technological means.

Presenting research papers for the first time

Dr Shaikha Al Mazrouei added that the summit sessions include the presentation of research papers presented for the first time in the field of test development, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and the latest treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s, and spotlighted the conference as an important opportunity for all doctors specialised in the field of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine.

By Hadeer Elhadary, Lead Journalist, ESG Mena – Arabic

1 year ago 0 comments

Developing Innovation & Education Social

Discussions on IFCC World Lab 204, AI, mental health and more | Interview with Dr. Rachel Stratton

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

1 year ago 0 comments

Developing Environment Jobs

Climate change threatens health of 70% of world’s workers

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

A new report issued by the International Labor Organisation has found that more than 70 per cent of the world’s workforce is likely to be exposed to health risks linked to climate change.

The report, like the many others that came before it, issues a clear warning about the risks of climate change, both for workers’ health and economic output.

The ILO report, “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate,” found that more than 2.4 billion workers of the world’s 3.4 billion workers, are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work.

According to the latest figures available, when this is calculated as a share of the global workforce, the figure has increased from 65.5 per cent to 70.9 per cent since 2000.

Fatal climate impacts

In addition to this, the report estimates that 18,970 workers lose their lives annually due to climate change, with 22.87 million occupational injuries attributed to excessive heat and an estimated 26.2 million persons living with chronic kidney disease attributable to exposure to excessive heat at work.

However, beyond this, the report notes that many workers’ other health conditions are also linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, respiratory disorders, kidney dysfunction, and mental health conditions.

Indeed, the report noted that 1.6 billion workers are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, with more than 18,960 work-related deaths annually due to non-melanoma skin cancer. Meanwhile, 1.6 billion workers are also exposed to increased risks of air pollution in the workplace, resulting in up to 860,000 work-related deaths annually.

On the other hand, there are more than 870 million agricultural workers who have potentially been exposed to pesticides, with more than 300,000 deaths attributed to pesticide poisoning annually.

This is in addition to the more than 15,000 work-related deaths each year due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

Dr Manal Azzi, Global Team Lead on Occupational Safety & Health, ILO, stressed that working in safe and healthy environments is recognised as one of the ILO’s basic principles and rights at work and called for occupational safety and health considerations to become part of climate change responses – both policies and actions.

“We must deliver on that commitment in relation to climate change, just as in every other aspect of work.”

A bleak future for labour markets

This report echoes the warning issued by the ILO back in 2019, which forecasted a bleak future for labour markets in light of the intensifying climate crisis.

Indeed, back then, the report expected that rising temperatures would lead to increased heat stress on workers and cause huge losses to the global economy.

Indeed, the report warned that rising temperatures would result in the loss of 80 million full-time jobs and 2.2 per cent of total working hours annually globally by 2030. This, it was shared, amounts to an equivalent of USD 2.4 trillion in economic losses annually.

Revealing how the situation is evolving, a study published by The Lancet found that exposure to heat led to a potential 470 billion hours of lost work globally in 2021, and disproportionately affected low- and middle-income countries, adding to the impact of the cost of living crisis.

However, more broadly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) expects that, from 2030 to 2050, climate change will cause roughly 250,000 deaths each year due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.

Climate change causes 37% of heat deaths

At the same time, the WHO has confirmed that climate shocks and increasing pressures, such as changing temperatures, rainfall patterns, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels, are deteriorating both the environmental and social determinants of physical and mental health, with air, water, soil, diets and livelihoods all detrimentally impacted.

In fact, the organisation referenced recent research that attributes 37 per cent of heat-related deaths to climate change caused by human activity.

Moreover, the percentage of heat-related deaths among people over the age of 65 has increased by 70 per cent over the last two decades.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, heat illness occurs when a person is exposed to high temperatures, and their body’s sweating mechanism fails, preventing cool; adding that millions of American workers are regularly exposed to heat in their workplaces, resulting in heat stroke and exhaustion, especially in jobs that require physical exertion.

Further, it warned that climate change affects air quality in many ways, with some outdoor air pollutants expected to increase, such as particulates from dust resulting from drought and wildfire smoke.

This means workers who work outdoors, including agricultural and migrant workers, are, in particular, more susceptible to these pollutants, potentially leading to respiratory diseases.

In addition, it warned that climate change is linked to the deterioration of workers’ mental health, especially for those working on the front lines, such as firefighters and healthcare workers.

By Hadeer Elhadary, Lead Journalist, ESG Mena – Arabic

1 year ago 0 comments

Environment Social Special Reports

ILO report: Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

A new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) titled, Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, has found that climate change is already having a serious impact on the safety and health of workers in all regions across the world.

According to the report, more than 2.4 billion workers (out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion) are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work. When calculated as a share of the global workforce, the proportion has increased from 65.5 per cent to 70.9 per cent since 2000.

In the report, it is noted that climate change threatens ecosystems and the 1.2 billion jobs that rely directly upon them, particularly jobs in farming, fishing, and forestry.

Further, while outlining that 18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years are lost annually due to the 22.87 million occupational injuries, which are attributable to excessive heat, it emphasises that climate change impacts extend beyond this.

Numerous health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney dysfunction and mental health conditions, it shared.

The impact includes:

1.6 billion workers exposed to UV radiation,
More than 18,960 work-related deaths annually from nonmelanoma skin cancer,
1.6 billion people are likely to be exposed to workplace air pollution,
This will result in up to 860,000 work-related deaths among outdoor workers annually,
Over 870 million workers in agriculture are likely to be exposed to pesticides,
More than 300,000 deaths are attributed to pesticide poisoning annually,
Fifteen thousand work-related deaths every year due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

It outlined that countries have implemented new laws to specifically address excessive heat in the working environment, ranging from maximum temperature limits to guidelines for adaptive measures at the workplace-level, with legislation varying considerably between countries.

However, according to the report, as climate change hazards evolve and intensify, it will be necessary to re-evaluate existing legislation or create new regulations and guidance.

Read the full report here.

1 year ago 0 comments

Innovation & Education Latest News

Dubai to host IFCC World Lab 2024 in May

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

Dubai is gearing up to host the IFCC World Lab 2024, a global conference convening laboratory professionals and scientists worldwide, from 26 to 30 May, marking the first time the event is held in the MEA region and the first time outside Europe.

The event will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA), and will be located at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The conference will feature speakers and exhibitors from 107 countries, with 227 speakers from 67 nationalities.

The speakers include 63 from the Middle East, of which six are Emirati. There are also eight speakers from South America, 63 from North America, 16 from Africa, 83 from Europe, nine from Australia, and 75 from Asia.

The details of the event were shared at a press conference hosted by the Dubai Press Club, where it was outlined that the conference will serve as a platform to facilitate the free and open exchange of information on the science and technology of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine in the academic, clinical, and industrial settings.

The conference will feature five events, including:

The 26th International Summit on Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine IFCC World Lab 2024;
17th Arab Union Summit for Biochemistry;
The 10th Conference of the Saudi Society for Biochemistry;
The 8th International Conference on Genetic Disorders 2024; and
The 3rd edition of the UAE Award for Genetic Disorder Reduction.

The press conference was attended by Ahmed Al Jumairi, Senior Manager, Dubai Business Events; Dr. Mariam Mohammed Matar, Founder and President of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association; Dr. Fareeda Al Shemali, Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Award for Genetic Disorder Reduction; Dr. Rachel Stratton, Head of the Scientific Program of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association; Hamoud Al Mahmoud, Chief Content Officer of the MAJARRA Platform; Saif Al Rahmani, Founder and President of the ‘Thank You for Your Giving’ volunteer team; and Salah Jafer, CEO of ESG Mena, which is the event’s strategic partner.

The conference will, for the first time, highlight clinical practices in regenerative medicine and healthy aging, and conclude with a scientific discussion conducted in Arabic, covering all topics addressed during the summit.

Further, a panel of selected clinical specialists will engage in a comprehensive dialogue on the advancements and insights shared during the event.

The summit will commence with a lecture on genomics in the Middle East presented by Prof. Fouzan Sami Al Kuria, Professor of Human Genetics at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

At the press conference this week, Dr Fareeda Al Shemali, Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Award for Genetic Disorder Reduction, announced the launch of the third edition of the UAE International Genomics Awards, which will focus on the future of medicine.

The award aims to recognise and promote cutting-edge advances in crucial areas of medical science, and invites nominations from an array of fields including genomic medicine, artificial intelligence, machine learning, precision medicine, precision health, regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, and microbiome.

1 year ago 0 comments

Food Latest News

The WHO and Egyptian Food Bank launch “Partnership for Healthy Cities” initiative

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

This week, the Partnership for Healthy Cities initiative was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministries of Health and Population, Education and Technical Education, the Cairo Governorate, and the Egyptian Food Bank (EFB).

The joint initiative aims to safeguard citizens health from non-communicable diseases by providing school canteens with the necessary equipment and supplies to offer healthy food options.

Alongside this, the Egyptian Food Bank will provide healthy foods, operate the school canteen, and conduct interactive activities to promote health messages in selected schools as part of EFB’s ‘School Nutrition’ program.

It was shared that this program is a key part of EFB’s prevention pillar initiatives aimed at preventing malnutrition in newborns and children up to 12 years old, focusing on transitioning from treatment-oriented policies to preventive measures, targeting the reduction of food insecurity.

According to Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population, the ‘Partnership for Healthy Cities’ program also aligns with the ministry’s and the Egyptian government’s citizen health improvement efforts, seen in the launch of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s initiative to combat obesity, anemia, and stunting among children in schools, among other initiatives and programs aimed at fostering a disease-free future.

The results of the presidential initiative to detect malnutrition among primary school students for the academic year 2022/2021 found a prevalence of anaemia among children aged 6-12 years of approximately 17 per cent. Meanwhile, roughly 4.5 per cent in the same age group suffered from stunting, and 12 per cent suffered from obesity.

Dr. Nima Abid, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Egypt, outlined that individual health is influenced by a complex interplay of biological factors, encompassing physical, mental, and psychological dimensions, as well as environmental, behavioral, social, and economic determinants.

Further, citing that non-communicable diseases account for roughly 84 per cent of deaths in Egypt, the parties shared it was important to address the most prevalent risk factors, notably unhealthy nutrition.

The ‘Partnership for Healthy Cities’ initiative is a global network backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies Organization, encompassing 70 cities, including Cairo. Its objective is to save lives by preventing non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

It was shared that initiative also evaluated the environment of school canteens and the quality of food sold, and from this, the organisation provided the equipment and supplies that would enable canteens to sell healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables as healthy alternatives.

Health educators and canteen staff were also trained to provide scientific information on these alternatives and encourage students to adopt healthy dietary patterns.

1 year ago 0 comments

Innovation & Education Latest News Social

M42 to open Imperial College London Diabetes Centre

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of the M42 group, has announced it will open a dedicated facility in Madinat Zayed to provide comprehensive care for diabetes and endocrine patients.

Set to open in the second half of this year, the new centre in Al Dhafra will provide targeted prevention and intervention for more than 6,000 diabetes sufferers in the region, cutting travel time by more than 75 per cent.

It will be equipped with the latest diagnostic and management facilities supported by a multi-specialty team, with “state-of-the-art” outpatient services, providing specialised care for diabetes and endocrine-related complications.

It was shared that the flagship ICLDC in Abu Dhabi currently serves around 9 per cent of the Al Dhafra patient population, while the facility in Madinat Zayed will provide greater access to those across the Al Dhafra region, including residents of Liwa, Mirfa, Gayathi, Ruwais, and Tarif.

ICLDC will also continue to promote preventive solutions for Type 2 diabetes, with an extensive community outreach programme including:

Workshops,
Health screenings,
Educational programmes for schools and organisations, and
The promotion of an active lifestyle and healthy eating.

Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director, and Group Chief Executive Officer, M42, said: “M42 is committed to providing world-class preventive and personalised health solutions that enable individuals to put their health back in their own hands. As a leader in diabetes and endocrine management and prevention, the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre is positively impacting lives across the UAE. Expanding our one-stop services to Al Dhafra presents an opportunity to serve a much greater number of UAE residents with an innovative model that provides premium, tech-enabled health solutions that result in tangible positive clinical outcomes.”

Dr. Mai Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of ICLDC, commented: “Today, the need for accessible and comprehensive diabetes care has never been more apparent. Serving more of the Al Dhafra population is an honour and a duty we are fully committed to. Our aim is to provide patients with the best patient-centric and comprehensive diabetes and endocrinology solutions, under one roof and closer to home.”

ICLDC’s Madinat Zayed facility will be the fourth dedicated facility in the UAE, in addition to a satellite clinic based in Mubadala Health Dubai, which offers integrated diabetes and endocrine treatment services.

1 year ago 0 comments

Innovation & Education Latest News

UAE Health Council discusses key strategic initiatives to upgrade health sector

by Madaline Dunn 1 year ago

written by Madaline Dunn

The UAE Health Council recently met to discuss key strategic initiatives in the country’s health sector. These discussions included plans for establishing a national centre for epidemic prevention and the latest developments on the health cloud project.

On Thursday, March 21, the Council, featuring various government health entities and representatives from the private sector, endorsed several decisions to bolster the health sector and foster a cohesive approach between federal and local health authorities and strategic partners.

The meeting was aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination among various health initiatives and projects, and fostering greater unity to realise national health objectives.

Another key focus was developing a future plan for the country in the health sector.

Among the areas discussed was the Health Cloud project, which uses cutting-edge cloud computing technology to offer a secure platform for storing, sharing, and managing health data.

The project enables quick and easy access to health information, enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services, it was shared.

Further, it was noted that it:

Enhances communication between health providers and patients,
Fosters innovation in health research, and
Providing advanced analytical capabilities for identifying health trends and diseases.

The Council also reviewed the UAE’s most significant achievements in enhancing the country’s competitiveness in global health indicators, with the overarching aim of promoting health, improving quality of life, and ensuring sustainability.

Chaired by HE Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, the meeting was attended by His HE Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, HE Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, HE Dr. Abdulaziz Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority, as well as representatives from government health authorities and the private health sector.

The UAE Health Council is responsible for coordinating efforts of federal and local entities providing healthcare services and the private healthcare sector.

The Council also examines shared issues facing the healthcare sector in the country, and takes appropriate actions in coordination with relevant authorities.

It also reviews draft laws, regulations, and instructions related to the healthcare sector, submits recommendations to the competent authorities, and promotes scientific studies and research.

1 year ago 0 comments

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