SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - UAE Interact

S O C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T261Dubai in the free zone. The Dental Health Centre is scheduled toopen early in 2008 and the first trainees will enter the Institutein July 2008. Graduate training programmes will be offered inmost of the recognised dental specialties.The Boston centres will join other leading world class institutionsat DHCC, including the Harvard Medical School – Dubai Centre,Mayo Clinic, AstraZeneca, Harvard Medical International and theAmerican Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.It was also announced that Dh1 billion is being spent to buildWorldCare’s Wellness Centre in phase two, to be developed withthe Duke University Health System and Partners Healthcare System.With over 80 per cent of the GCC adult population suffering fromsedentary diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol,smoking related illnesses and obesity, this centre will target a largesegment of the population in the GCC, Arab world and Europe.By shifting healthdelivery responsibilitiesinto private hands andpartnering with theprivate sector toupgrade existingpublic facilities, thegovernment can focuson critical public healthmatters such asprevention, publiceducation andawareness.PRIMARY CARE AND PREVENTIONThe ageing of the population and changed lifestyles have led toan increase in the incidence of a range of diseases requiringextensive treatment and care, including cancer, respiratory andcardiovascular disease. In addition, according to internationalstatistics, the UAE now has one of the world’s highest prevalencelevels of type II diabetes in adults. Equally alarming is the highprevalence of asthma and obesity in children. Treating thesediseases is expensive, and if future incidence of disease is notreduced through preventive measures, the cost of treatment andthe loss of human capital through disease will continue toadversely impact economic growth.Abu Dhabi Executive Council Policy Agenda 2007/2008 pointsout that by shifting health delivery responsibilities into privatehands and partnering with the private sector to upgrade existingpublic facilities, the government can focus on critical public healthmatters such as prevention, public education and awareness. TheHealth Authority has prioritised and set ambitious improvementtargets in 12 key areas including diabetes, breast cancer, infectiousdisease and road death prevention. In addition, the emirate will@www.uaeinteract.com/health