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Smith & Nephew joins with the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health to launch the region's first 'Diabetic Foot Academy', as the threat of diabetes complications grows

First MOH Diabetic Foot Academy: 28-30 March 2011, Jeddah,
28 March 2011 (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia): Smith & Nephew, the global medical technology company which focuses on repairing and healing patients' bodies, will sponsor the region's first Diabetic Foot Academy (DFA) to be held in Jeddah, in partnership with the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health . The comprehensive three-day programme comprises lectures and workshops and is expected to attract up to 40 surgeons from the MOH and other institutions who will learn more about the condition, and the latest care and surgical interventions. The DFA is accredited by the Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, USA.

The DFA will be led by one of the world's leading experts, Prof Gerit D Mulder of the University of California San Diego, and is endorsed by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health . The DFA will be chaired by Dr. Khaled A. Abdulrahman Tayeb, Consultant Diabetologist & Endocrinologist, Director of Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Al Nour Specialist Hospital, Makkah.

The Middle East and North African regions are amongst the most affected by the consequences of diabetes with a prevalence in the GCC of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of the adult population. Due to cultural, social, educational and climate factors, the incidence of lower limb lesions (an injury or damage which causes changes to the skin and organ) including foot ulcers amongst diabetic patients is very high - affecting about 50 per cent of all diabetic patients.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow 283 per cent between 2000 and 2030, due to changes in lifestyle and diet leading to increasing levels of obesity. Heart disease and diabetes are two of the main causes of death in Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia has the second highest rate of diabetes in the GCC, after the UAE.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes and if untreated can lead to amputation and severe lifestyle consequences for patients and their families.

Lack of appropriate footcare and exposure of the foot - for example, by wearing sandals - can contribute to the development of foot ulcers amongst diabetics and these can quickly lead to serious problems including the need to amputate.

According to Ms Lys Riachi, Managing Director of Smith & Nephew in the Middle East, Dr. Gerit Mulder, will help Smith & Nephew establish DFU management in the region and develop DFU specialists among the MOH surgeons attending the inaugural DFA.

"This first Diabetic Foot Academy (DFA) is a new educational initiative by Smith & Nephew with a focus on the advanced management of lower limb lesions in diabetic patients and we wanted to start in Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the region, with a very high prevalence of diabetes, where 1 out of 4 Saudis suffer from Diabetes Mellitus (25% of the population)" said Ms Riachi. "During the fully accredited three-day event, delegates will learn more about the latest diabetes management techniques and meet with colleagues who all share a desire to advance solutions for the serious and growing problem of Diabetic foot ulcer complications in the Kingdom and within the wider region. It's all part of Smith & Nephew's commitment towards Continuous Medical Education, which encourages and supports medical professional education to help improve standards. We thank the Saudi Arabia MOH and Dr Tayeb for their generous support and commitment to addressing this important health issue and look forward to developing the Diabetic Foot Academy in the Kingdom in partnership with the MOH - the first of its kind in the region."

Diabetic Foot Academy (DFA)

DFA guest speakers:
Dr. Samer Bondokji
Specialty: Podiatrist
Head of Foot Surgery Division at International Medical Centre, Jeddah

Dr. Aymen Yamani
Specialty: Plastic Surgeon
Head of Department Plastic Surgery & Burn Unit - Al Noor Hospital - Jeddah

Dr. Mohamed Omar Saeed Bafaraj
Specialty: Vascular Surgery
Head of Vascular Department at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital - Jeddah

Dr. Ali Omar Al-Amoudi
Specialty: Orthopedics
Orthopedics Consultant at Al Noor Hospital, Jeddah

www.smith-nephew.com

Dr. Khaled A. Abdulrahman Tayeb

Consultant Diabetologist & Endocrinologist

Director of Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Al Nour Specialist Hospital, Makkah

Chairman of the administrative board Sheffa Charity Association. Makkah

Dr. Tayeb is a consultant of internal medicine and endocrinology with special interest in diabetes care. He graduated from Vienna University in 1985 and since then he has been working to develop diabetes care all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He is the founder of the Diabetes Center in Al-Noor Hospital Makkah which is one of the first centers providing multidisciplinary health care for people with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Tayeb also headed the national diabetes committee for diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 3 years and during that period, he has initiated the project of establishing 20 diabetes centers in the Kingdom and has since then working to make this project a reality to help improve diabetes care in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Tayeb introduced the up-to-date diagnostic and therapeutic tools of diabetic foot care management including modern dressings and offloading modalities which has very much influenced the outcome of diabetic foot disease in the area. He also helped establishing other foot clinics in the region and trained groups of nurses and doctors on the subject.

Dr. Tayeb has several publications both in English and Arabic language.

Prof Gerit D Mulder, Director of Wound Treatment and Research Center, University of California San Diego. He is an internationally recognized lecturer, researcher and clinician with worldwide experience focusing heavily on salvage of the lower extremity, amputation prevention, infection control, diabetic ulcers and management of the diabetic patient.

Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew provides a full portfolio of products to its customers and supports its range of products with comprehensive learning and education programmes for medical staff and patients. Each year, Smith & Nephew trains more than 150,000 healthcare professionals with a full range of educational programmes.

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Media contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Mobile: +971 50 4588610
Email: jon@wprme.com

© Press Release 2011