2005
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RAK cheese ban
Ras Al Khaimah has banned a particular type of cheese from school canteens in the emirate, according to Gulf News. Authorities did not give a reason for banning Akwai, the cheese in question, but said the move is part of the municipality's efforts to ensure health standards.
$327m UAE health upgrade
Up to $327m is being invested on hospitals, clinics and health centres in the northern emirates, a senior UAE health official told Gulf News. The plan is to increase access to medical treatment for patients not living in the main cities. All projects are expected to be finished within three years.
Egyptian children, Hep C risk
Between 14-18% of Egyptians carry the Hepatitis C virus, with children at high risk of infection from their parents, according to an article in the US medical journal Hepatology cited by Reuters. The disease spread in Egypt between 1960 and 1970, when unsterilised needles were used during a government campaign to treat the water-borne disease bilharzia.
Milco introduces health drink
Milco has introduced a new dairy product called Laban Plus, which it says helps to increase the body's immunity through the addition of a probiotic culture. Probiotic cultures are living bacteria which are said to positively affect the immune system by improving the balance of good and bad bacteria in the intestine. Laban Plus will be promoted throughout September in UAE supermarkets.
WFP and ISESCO to fight poverty
The United Nations World Food Programme and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization have agreed to work on reducing poverty under a food-for-aid scheme with a focus on children, education and gender equality. The scheme will include the running of training seminars and workshops, as well as the exchange of expertise.
Oman private neonatal centre
Oman's first private mother and child care centre is opening at the new Apollo Medical Centre in Muscat. It will cover the medical needs of neonates and children, dietetics and nutrition, as well as childcare counselling. AMC also has plans to introduce a variety of specialisations including cardiology, ENT, general medicine and surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, and orthopaedics, as well as a modern intensive care unit.
Skin cancer risks
Without proper skin protection against sunlight exposure there is an increased risk of skin cancer in the UAE, said Dr. Upendra Acharya Consultant Dermatologist and Medical Director of Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre. He advised people to be aware of changes in moles such as sudden increase in growth, darkening or scattering of pigment, bleeding or irritation.
Prostate surgery, Viagra option
Middle East doctors are to prescribe Viagra to men recovering from prostate gland surgery, as the drug has been shown to speed up the recovery process. For prostate cancer sufferers this is fantastic, said Dr. Nabil Mitry of the UAE's Manchester Clinic.
KSA plans 250 hospitals
Saudi Arabia is planning to establish 250 more hospitals over the next four years, according to the Health Ministry. Director-general Dr Khalid bin Ali Al Zahrani said the ministry was in the process of signing up a foreign company to develop and administer the hospitals under a special committee.
UAE aid for Iraq stampede
The stampede in Baghdad which killed more than 1,000 people yesterday has drawn a swift response from the UAE, reported Wam. Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered humanitarian assistance and medical supplies to be send to the Shiite pilgrim victims.
DHTC adds Chiropractic
Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre has opened its new Chiropractic department, headed by South African Masters degree graduate Dr Travis Mitchell. Chiropractic will join the variety of other specialisations DHTC has to offer including traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, dermatology, ayurveda and manual lymphatic drainage.
Warning on high blood pressure
Experts are warning that the Middle East faces a dramatic rise in cases of high blood pressure, due in part to the popularity of fatty foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. One in four UAE nationals suffers from hypertension. Dr. V.J. Sebastian, cardiologist at the Welcare Hospital, Dubai, claims that - contrary to popular belief - women are equally at risk as men.
Noon breaks end today
The compulsory four-hour mid-day break for labourers in the UAE ends today, but 60% of firms ignored it anyway, reported Gulf News. The Labour Ministry conducted 164 site visits over the summer to check compliance and 65 firms were found to be violating health and safety laws while 60% still had staff working at noon.
Infection control conference
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 90,000 patients die every year from hospital acquired infections. Patient Safety 2005, being held in Dubai from 17-19 September, will bring together international health professionals to examine issues relating to infection control.
Healthy eating for schools
Dubai's Department of Health and Medical Services has moved to control diabetes and obesity in UAE school children by proposing the introduction of healthy eating and exercise regimes in schools, according to Gulf News. The proposals include cutting sugar content in food and beverages at school cafeterias, cutting out unhealthy snacks, and increasing exercise sessions.
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