Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 10, 2015:  Dubai Health Authoritys medical centre  at Al Maktoum International Airport held a health awareness campaign for travelers and staff working at the airport.

The campaign benefitted more than 150 people and included free health screening for blood pressure, blood sugar etc.  Educational material was also distributed to provide information on the precautions travellers should take especially those who are suffering from chronic diseases.

Dubai Health Authority has three airport medical centres located in Dubai International Airport and one medical centre located in Al Maktoum international airport. All these medical centres function round-the-clock, seven days a week.

The medical centre in Al Maktoum international airport was opened in May 2014 and since then on an average, on a daily basis, the centre treats 150 to 200 patients per month.

Dr Adulrazzak Hassan, medical in-charge of the Al Maktoum airport medical centre said these figures reflect the critical role played by the centre in providing emergency medical services to passengers  and airport staff.  We get several types of cases such as chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea, maternity, paediatric cases etc. In major cases, we stabilise the patient and if further care is required, the patient is immediately transferred to a DHA hospital via Dubai Ambulance.

Presently the Al Maktoum airport medical centre has 6 doctors, ten nurses and ten administration staff. The centre provides travellers with emergency medical services such as CPR and provides critical patients with immediate medical attention. In addition, helps the elderly and unwell patients by providing wheelchairs and stretchers, issues medical clearance for staff, and fitness certificates for travellers. In addition to this, the centre also provides medical attention to pilgrims travelling for the Hajj pilgrimage.

About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the DHA.

The DHAs aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHAs mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

Press Release 2015