2007
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New recruiting program for UAE
Welcare World Health Systems and the Emirates National Development Programme have signed a deal to establish the first Emiratisation training programme in the UAE's healthcare sector. Under the MoU, UAE Nationals will be recruited to work in WWHS's integrated local healthcare facilities that include hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers. WWHS is the first private healthcare establishment to commit to such an agreement.
Saudi to replace GPs
Saudi Arabia's Ministry Of Health has revealed that GPs in public healthcare centres are to be replaced by family doctors, reported Arab News. The decision has been taken as part of a strategy to tackle rising obesity levels, cardiovascular complaints and diabetes. The kingdom hopes to have around 2,000 health centres inside two years and aims to bring doctor/patient ratios down from one to 4,000 to around one to 400.
Animal feed killed camels
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Agriculture has said toxins in animal feed, rather than a contagious disease, has killed over 3,000 camels, goats and cows over the past few months, reported Arab News. Test results have now been returned and evidence of the presence of salinomycin, to which camels are highly allergic, has been found in bran given as animal feed. The feed also contained a dangerous fungus and toxic aluminium.
Genetics forum in Dubai
Dubai is to host the Second Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference from November 18-22 this year, reported Gulf News. The Centre for Arab Genomic Studies has said the Gulf region has one of the highest rates of genetic disorders, with 240 different conditions recorded in the UAE alone. Issues such as the genetic testing of foetuses and the possible abortion of diseased foetuses will be raised.
Dohms eyes investment
Laila Al Jasmi, the Director of Planning and Statistics at the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms), has said investment will be channelled into certain medical sectors to address the healthcare needs of Dubai's rising population, reported Gulf News. Al Jasmi said there should be a health centre for every 30,000 people but at present the ratio is one centre to 77,733 people.
Kuwaiti Ministry gets $50m
Kuwait's government has decided to allocate around $50m to the Ministry of Health, reported the KUNA. The funds will be used to boost the capacity of hospitals in the country by creating additional beds and expanding the size of wards. Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Al Hajji said work would continue 'around the clock' and it is hoped the expansion will be completed within a few months.
More Chinese toys are recalled
Mattel, the world's leading toymaker, has announced that it would recall more than 800,000 Chinese-made toys globally that contain 'impermissible' levels of lead, reported Reuters. The latest recall, the third in two months, involves three Fisher-Price toy models and eight Barbie brand playsets. In total, 522,000 US toys and 322,000 outside the US are being recalled.
Aramex to buy hybrid cars
Shipping and ground delivery firm Aramex said it would buy 10 hybrid electric cars by 2009 as part of its corporate social responsibility, reported Gulf News. Aramex CEO Fadi Ghandour said his company plans to reduce fuel consumption by 20%, carbon dioxide emissions by 50%, and its leaded gas consumption by 100%. In the next three years, it will also earn two per cent of its revenue from 'green services'.
600,000 reusable bags sold
Carrefour has announced the sale of its 600,000th reusable plastic bag in a span of six months in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and KSA. The campaign is aimed at creating awareness on the impact of plastic bags that pollute the ecosystem each year and encouraging shoppers to reduce their use. Available at checkout counters as an alternative to plastic bags, the reusable bags are sold at cost price.
Camel deaths still mystery
Saudi Arabian Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahd Balghunaim said he does not believe the recent deaths of thousands of camels and other animals were caused by infectious disease. He said a special panel was still investigating the situation. About 200 more animals, including camels, cows, and goats, died of the mysterious disease during the past week, bringing the death toll to more than 3,000.
Diabetes on the rise in UAE
The rate of diabetes in the UAE is growing at an alarming rate, with a high percentage of the population at risk, especially young people, reported Gulf News citing experts who spoke at a medical conference at Abu Dhabi's National Exhibition Centre. One out of five people in the UAE has the disease, and country has the second highest number of diabetes patients per capita in the world, second only to the tiny Pacific island of Nauru.
Dubai lab gets accreditation
The American Hospital Dubai Laboratory has been awarded an accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection. The American Hospital Dubai Laboratory is now one of more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories worldwide and it is the first private laboratory in the Middle East to achieve CAP accreditation since 2001.
Immunisation drive in Iraq
A major immunisation drive is to get underway in Iraq targeting around 4.8m under fives. The campaign involves 20,000 vaccinators working across the country, house to house, including in areas of insecurity, over a period of five days. The aim is to give as many children as possible the oral polio vaccine.
Saudi scholarship approval
Saudi Arabia's Health Minister Dr Hamad Al Manie has said a scholarship programme under which 1,000 Saudi doctors and medical technicians would be sent abroad for further study and training has been approved, reported Arab News. So far this year, the ministry has sent 510 medical staff from across the kingdom, including 66 women, to 15 countries including the US and UK for training.
UAE aids SEN Lebanese
The UAE's Ministry of Interior is to host and support 12 Lebanese people with special educational needs (SEN), reported the local WAM news agency. The ministry will place those selected at its rehabilitation centres for a one year period, where they will receive training in subjects such as IT and graphic design.
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