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Week In Review | By
Debasree S, Contributing Editor | 7-13 January, 2007
Week 7-13 January,
2007
New Facilities for Autistic Kids
The UAE government's initiative to integrate autistic children with the
mainstream will be strengthened further with the opening of a new unit
at the Senses Special Needs Center in Dubai. Dedicated to autistic
children and those with learning difficulties, the center is expected to
employ the latest techniques to measure the learning abilities of each
child and prepare individual educational programs. The center will be
headed by Dr. Lubna Owais, an expert in the diagnosis, treatment and
rehabilitation of autistic children in the Gulf.
UAE Hospitals to Treat Sick Iraqi Children
In a benevolent stand, the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, has approved of the treatment of sick Iraqi children,
free of cost, at UAE's capital Abu Dhabi. A group of 15 Iraqi children
suffering from serious ailments like cancer and brain disorders will
soon arrive in the country to receive medical attention at the capital's
Al Mafraq hospital. The UAE Red Crescent Society will help in
transporting the ailing children from the war-torn country to the UAE.
HIV Saliva Test-Kit Launched
An HIV saliva test kit has become available in the UAE for the first
time, offering a less intrusive and effective alternative means of
detecting the disease. Dubbed as a breakthrough diagnostic product, the
saliva test kit called "Aware Oral" provides results within 20
minutes with a 99.8 per cent accuracy, said Engineer Yousuf Al Nuaimi,
Acting Medical Division Manager, Bin Salem Group-Medical Division.
"We are currently working along with the MOH to determine a
reasonable and affordable price of the product and it should be less
that the regular blood test that costs Dhs. 300. The HIV test kit will
soon be made available across government hospitals, clinics, medical
centers and laboratories across the country.
Pay Hike for Government Nurses
Government nurses now have some good news to muse on. A pay rise of upto
30 per cent is on the cards. Currently nurses make between Dhs. 4,000 to
Dhs. 8000 depending on the experience and expertise. Senior nurses or
matrons make about Dhs. 11,000 monthly according to the current monthly
pay scale. Dr. Abdul Gaffar Al Hawi, the assistant undersecretary for
Curative Medicine, MOH, said that the pay rise is likely to come into
effect by the end of April.
Curb on Medical Ads
The MoH has finalized a draft law that will impose stringent penalties
for violations of medical advertisement guidelines in the country.
Despite taking several measures to control publication of misleading ads
concerning medical products that might directly or indirectly affect
public health, the MOH has registered an alarming number of violations
in recent times. As per the draft law, strict rules will be applicable
to all the health-related ads with the aim of averting hazards posed by
unrecognized medical practices and controlling ads concerning medical
products. The daft law will be forwarded to the cabinet soon for
approval.
Smoking Disasters
A report released by the Executive Office of the AGCC Health Minister's
Council has revealed that smoking claims 1,500 lives in the UAE annually
at an average of four people per day. It is believed that tobacco
consumption in the AGCC countries claims 16,000 lives every year at an
average of 45 deaths per day resulting from diseases caused by smoking.
The anti-smoking campaign of the Smoking Cessation Unit has helped 110
smokers to kick the habit during 2006. Out of the 601 smokers who
registered with the unit, 110 quit smoking according to statistics made
available to the media.
IAEA Expert Inspect Hospital Radiation
Professor John Jerry, an expert in medical physics and radiation
measurement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carried
out an inspection of both private and public hospitals in the UAE that
utilize radiation equipment. The inspection was meant to determine the
level of awareness among the staff at the hospitals. "We are doing
very well. We have good equipment for protection, reading levels and
diagnosis," said Dr. Ali Shakar, assistant Undersecretay at the MOH.
"However we would like to evaluate if we are conforming to
international standards." The inspection of the nuclear energy
experts included visits to the following hospitals : Al Qasimi, Al
Baraha, Rashid, Dubai, Tawam and Shaikh Khalifa Medical City.
British Royal College in Dubai
The British Royal College has set up UK Fellowship courses on Gynecology
and Obstetrics for the first time outside the UK in Dubai. In tandem
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Royal College has
begun to offer British Fellowship courses for the first time in the
Middle East providing an opportunity for physicians in the region to
specialize in Gynecology and Obstetrics without having to travel to the
UK.
Posted 19/JAN/07
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