New diabetes centre to open in Dubai by September

Tuesday, Jun 12, 2012

Dubai A new state-of-the-art diabetes management and care centre with a bigger capacity for patients will be operational by September this year, a senior official from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced yesterday.

The Dubai Diabetic Centre, located on the ‘2nd of December’ Street, will provide the most comprehensive care for diabetic children and adults.

“The new centre will increase the clinic’s capacity by more than 50 per cent,” Qadi Saeed Al Muroushid, DHA Director-General said, adding that the centre is almost three times the size of the existing one which is located in the Latifa Hospital premises.

The new centre measures 20,000 square feet compared to the current one that is only 8,000 sq feet. Once the new centre opens, the current one will no longer be operational.

“By opening this new centre, we meet our goal of multiplying capacity so that we reach out to a larger number of diabetic patients,” Al Muroushid said.

Currently, the UAE has a diabetes prevalence rate of 19.2 per cent, which means that one in every four adults has diabetes according to the Diabetes Atlas 2011 released by the International Diabetes Federation. Around the world, the UAE ranks tenth among countries with the highest diabetes prevalence.

The opening of the new centre is in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Al Muroushid said.

Specialised care

DHA will introduce paediatric endocrinology services at the new centre besides making it a child-friendly centre. A day care treatment room will also be provided so that all the diagnostic tests can be conducted in the centre itself.

The centre will also have a bigger capacity for retinal imaging and podiatry facility, which are both critical for early diagnosis. An exercise physiologist will analyse and make programmes to suit the needs of every diabetic patient.

Moreover, the centre will begin a new programme of training ten primary health care physicians from DHA in diabetes care and management to further strengthen the importance of specialised diabetic care across primary centres as they provide frontline treatment to patients.

DHA will expand the staff at the centre by 50 per cent to cater to the projected increase in demand for medical care.

By opening this new centre, they hope to reach out to a larger number of diabetic patients.

By Janice Ponce de Leon Staff Reporter