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UAE strengthens measures against bird flu
The health authorities of the UAE are seeking assistance from international organizations to strengthen the country's safeguard measures against bird flu, reported Xinhua. The UAE Ministry of Health will sign agreements with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit to strengthen surveillance and diagnostic capabilities against bird flu. According to a senior official with the UAE Ministry of Environment earlier this month, a plan had been developed to tackle the possible situation posed by persons contracting the bird flu virus.
Sex and chickens a global health concern
Michael Walsh, CEO of the National Health Authority of Qatar told delegates at the MEED Qatar Conference that "sex & chickens" are a growing concern for global health. "The number of sexually transmitted diseases and avian flu have been a growing issue of serious concern all over the world," he said.
Qatar universal health insurance is underway
With the population of Qatar expected to increase by at least 10 per cent by 2011, reaching 1.5 million people, the country is faced with the challenge of developing a universal insurance system. "The decision to create a universal health care system was made four years ago and will help provide those in need with free health care," said Michael Walsh, CEO of the National Health Authority of Qatar at the MEED Qatar Conference.
Dubai to build its first teaching hospital
Dubai is investing Dhs2.1bn ($572m) in the city's first teaching hospital, reported Gulf News. The University Hospital will function as the main tertiary care facility within Dubai Healthcare City and will be part of the Dhs4bn Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Centre. Harvard Medical School is providing its expertise in setting up the facilities and will support teaching and training of doctors. The hospital is expected to open in three years.
UAE health ministry criticised
The UAE's Ministry of Health has received harsh criticism for poor performance from members of the Federal National Council, reported Khaleej Times. At a recent council meeting, members said the country's health sector problems included meagre salaries of doctors, poor health services in many hospitals across the country, lack of coordination between the health clinics and accumulation of medical wastes. The ministry was also accused of covering up medical errors.
New device to measure brain damage
Dr Hasan Al Nashash, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, has invented a device to measure brain damage caused by a heart attack, reported Gulf News. He said the machine measures brain waves through electrodes attached to the head, which would then send the information into a data acquisition unit that display the extent of the brain injury. The device is non-invasive and radiation-free.
Oman halts poultry from India and Iran
Oman has banned the import of poultry products from India and Iran, according to a report by the Oman News Agency. No official reason was given for the ban, but India and Iran have reported outbreaks of bird flu.
Qatar bans Indian poultry
Qatar has imposed a ban on the imports of poultry and their products, including eggs, from India, reported Gulf Times. The Public Health Department of the National Health Authority (NHA) decided to impose the ban at the recommendation of the World Organization for Animal Health after new cases of bird flu were detected and confirmed in India.
Philippines bans poultry from Saudi
All imports of domestic and wild birds, poultry and related products from Saudi Arabia, Poland and Benin are temporarily banned in the Philippines. The temporary ban was recently imposed by the Department of Agriculture after official confirmation of the outbreak of the avian influenza or bird flu virus in the said countries.
Saudi doctors receive record pay increases
Saudi Arabia's health ministry has approved record pay increases for expatriate medical staff in the kingdom's government hospitals, reported Arab News. Up to 100,000 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff will receive wage hikes between 15% to 80%. State hospitals are experiencing shortages as highly qualified staff move to the private sector or leave the country altogether as they seek higher pay.
Dubai signs agreement with Harvard
Dubai Health Authority has signed an affiliation agreement with the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians to help improve healthcare administration in the emirate. The agreement will lead to expansion of the existing electronic medical record system, establishment of clinical performance measurements and the set up of the Joslin Centre Diabetes programme. DHA staff, both medical and administrative, will also receive continuous training.
Dubai to host healthcare congress
Arab Health, the largest multi-track healthcare congress in the world and the region's greatest gathering of healthcare professionals will take place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 28-31 January 2008. The Congress encompasses 18 internationally accredited conferences in specialised areas of medicine, surgery and healthcare management with over 400 eminent and internationally acclaimed speakers and more than 6,000 delegates.
Couchepin promotes health project in Egypt
Swiss President Pascal Couchepin, who is on an official visit to Egypt, has launched the second phase of a joint medical equipment programme, reported Swiss Info. Switzerland will donate $9.1m over the next three years to provide X-ray equipment for 102 Egyptian hospitals. Over the past 30 years Switzerland has spent a total of $330m on health infrastructure in Egypt.
UAE Red Crescent sends aid
The UAE Red Crescent Authority (UAE-RCA) has sent humanitarian aid by air to the Yemeni island of Socotra, reported WAM news agency. Socotra lies off the coast of Somalia and is witnessing a severe cold spell. The aid is a part of RCA's efforts to help the Yemeni Red Crescent society and Yemeni health ministry provide humanitarian aid for the people of the island. RCA Secretary General Saleh Moussa Al Thae thanked UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support to the aid project.
Egypt Warns of raising poultry domestically
Egyptian cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi on Wednesday warned that the real danger of bird flu in the country lays in raising birds inside or near homes, although 60 percent of domestic poultry has been vaccinated, reported USAgNet. Among the 43 human cases of bird flu including 19 deaths recorded since the outbreak of the disease in early 2006, 40 of them were a result of bringing up poultry in or near homes, said Radi. He added that the concerned departments were intensifying efforts, especially in rural areas, to complete inoculation of the remaining 40 per cent of poultry in the country.
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