United Arab Emirates, Dubai, April 23, 2014: Dr Wafa Ayesh, Director of Clinical Nutrition at the DHA recently took part in the Palliative Care Conference that was held in Kuwait to discuss the importance of nutrition for critically ill patients as well as patients that are nearing the end of life.

Palliative care (also called palliative medicine) is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Palliative care is appropriate for patients in all disease stages, including those undergoing treatment for curable illnesses and those living with chronic diseases, as well as patients who are nearing the end of life.

Dr Ayesh held a four hour workshop on the role of nutrition for such patients to help overcome problems such as loss of appetite, loss of body weight, muscles etc.  "Nutrition in palliative care is essential to help the patient to the maximum extent. It is important to address issues of food and feeding at this time to assist in the management of troublesome symptoms as well as to enhance the remaining life, in cases where there is no further cure or treatment possible. Palliative care is neede for cancer patients as well as those suffering from serious chronic illnesses such as advanced cardiac failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dementia. Cancer and its treatments put a major strain on the physical and psychological reserves of a person and at the end of life problems with appetite and the ability to eat and drink compound this problem. It is the aim of nutritionists to help minimize food-related discomfort and maximize food enjoyment. Identification of any nutritional problems can help deploy strategies which can help reduce further suffering as well as address issues such as weight loss, muscle loss in such patients."

Ayesh also discussed the role of multivitamins especially vitamin A, C and Zinc for cancer patients.

She emphasized on the role of nutrition to help patients suffering from various diseases and highlighted that nutrition plays a vital role in all stages of the disease and that if a disease is detected at an early stage, nutrition can help in better patient outcomes.

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 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.

© Press Release 2014