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Dubai, UAE – Dubai Health Authority has collaborated with Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) to support the launch of Dubai Smiles Healthy Award program at schools in Dubai in celebration of World Oral Health Day, which takes place annually on March 20. This day is marked across the world to drive awareness on the importance of good oral hygiene through every stage of life as well as to establish the practice of good oral healthcare habits.
As part of the program, DHA in cooperation with private clinics will visit schools to carry out dental checks on students. The head nurse in the schools will be trained to spot children with dental problems as well training the head primary teacher to supervise tooth brushing in class.
Students will also take part in a tooth brushing challenge and a writing competition, with the winning story to be brought to life by being transformed into a movie. The Dubai Smiles Healthy Award will be given to the school that demonstrates the most improved oral hygiene level.
Dubai Smiles Healthy Award was set up to achieve DHA’s 2021 strategy to raise awareness on oral health, prevention and screening in line with the goal of the dental Services department to reduce carries and improve general oral health levels amongst students in Dubai.
The partnership between Philips and DHA supports this program and activations at schools across Dubai, including GEMS Wellington Academy School in Silicon Oasis. The aim of the program is to engage with students and to advise them on the importance of good oral health; psychologically and physically. This is in addition to help decrease the level of cavities.
Dr Hamda Al Mesmar, Director of Dental Department at the DHA said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Philips and private clinics, including Dentist Direct, to drive awareness on the importance of good oral hygiene, as by 2021, we want to improve and change the overall oral health levels amongst students in Dubai. This new initiative is an excellent way of reaching the students in a way that can influence them from an early age. Oral hygiene is an important issue on our agenda, and through this program, we will ensure that we reach as many students and parents as we can to drive awareness and behavior change.’’
Vincenzo Ventricelli, Vice President and Market Leader at Philips Personal Health - Middle East & Turkey said, “We want to encourage young people from an early start in life to adopt good brushing habits and reinforce the message that it is important for both a healthy mouth and body. We want people to make smart decisions about their oral health and help them recognize that they need to give their oral hygiene routine more attention and go for regular check-ups, to achieve better overall health. At Philips we continue to work with experts and dentists which supports good oral healthcare habits.”
Research has shown that oral disease is affecting 3.9 billion people worldwide, with untreated tooth decay impacting almost half of the world’s population (44%). In UAE alone 90% of children suffer from carries. Oral disease is the number one most common diseases in the UAE, before obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer and mental illness. Philips aims to encourage preventative care at each stage of life, from young to old, in agreement with Philips Health Vision to improve the lives of three billion people a year by 2025.
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About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology, deep clinical, and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter
World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is celebrated every year on 20 March. It is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the importance of oral hygiene. World Oral Health Day 2016 aims to get everyone to recognise the impact their oral health has on their overall physical health and well-being.
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 Humaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.
The DHA’s 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 DHA’s 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.
For further information, please contact:
Mahmoud Al Ali
Kamakshi Gupta
Head of Media
Communications Analyst- Media Dept.
Dubai Health Authority
Dubai Health Authority
myalali@dha.gov.ae
Klgupta@dha.gov.ae
+9714 219 7260
+9714 2197455
For further information, please contact:
Name: Basma Shams
Tel: +971 55 100 3867
E-mail: Basma.Shams@philips.com
Name: Emeel Bishay
Tel: + 971 4450 2600
E-mail: Emeel.Bishay@fleishman.com
© Press Release 2017
