400 UAE doctors complete the 'Your Health Matters' CME Program

Among the key figures at the ceremony were H.E Dr. Ali Ahmed Bin Shakar, Undersecretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Wael Al Mahmeed, President of the Emirates Cardiac Society, UAE, and Dr. Jassem Al Suwaidi, Head of Intervention cardiology - Hamad Medical City, Board Member of the Gulf Heart Association, based in Qatar.

The 1-year program, initiated by sanofi-aventis pharmaceuticals, focused on educating doctors on the latest advancements in the field of cardio-metabolic risk management.

The ceremony begun with an opening speech and brief history of the 'Your Health Matters' initiative by Mr. Jean Marc Voissier, General Manager of sanofi-aventis, Gulf Countries.

The 'Your Health Matters' campaign was launched throughout the Gulf in April 2007 by sanofi-aventis in association with the World Health Organization, the Gulf Heart Association and the Emirates Cardiac Society.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and educate residents in the Gulf about the dangers of increased waist circumference and associated cardio metabolic risk factors and their link to cardiovascular disease.

"I am very proud to know that 400 doctors from the UAE's private and public sectors have completed this intensive 1-year program." said Dr. Ali Shakar during his speech at the ceremony. "Approximately 37% of adults aged thirty years and above suffer from abdominal obesity in the UAE. Effective cardio-metabolic risk management is a must at this point, and successful educational initiatives such as the one we have here today are a direct result of the public and private sectors' partnership and determination to improve the overall health of the country".

The 1-year program was delivered and accredited by Harvard University and consisted of 4 modules, where each module concentrated on discussing one aspect of cardio-metabolic risk factors and its direct correlation with cardiovascular disease. Each doctor was awarded 16 number of CME credit hours for attending the full course.

Cardio metabolic global risk; is a cluster of risk factors, which increase a person's chance of developing cardiovascular disease associated with heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

It is characterized by abdominal obesity, abnormal levels of lipids in the blood, high blood pressure, elevated insulin and/or glucose intolerance.

Men and women with cardio metabolic risk clusters are at a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.