Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 26, 2017: His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) inaugurated today the 3nd Dubai Nutrition Conference that is taking place at the InterContinental Festival City.
The three-day conference is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Finance Minister and President of the Dubai Health Authority.
Al Qutami said that in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and in line with the directions of His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai , UAE Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, the Authority is working at various levels to enhance health promotion and disease prevention.
He added: “ I would like to also mention the sports and health activity which is taking place at the Dubai Fitness Challenge, reflects the spirit of our city and country. The month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge launched by His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council provides an opportunity for the community to adopt a healthier lifestyle and improve their fitness levels.
“It is a known fact that a majority of non-communicable diseases ( NCD’s) are lifestyle related such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, obesity etc. These diseases are a burden on individuals and communities and the prevalence can be greatly reduced through lifestyle modification which includes nutrition and exercise.”
He added that the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021 also pays significant emphasis to public health promotion. “Such conferences present an opportunity to focus on the latest advances and challenges in the field of nutrition and exchange ideas with leaders in the field”
Dr. Waffa Ayesh, Chairperson of the Conference and Director of Clinical Nutrition at the DHA, said: “The importance of nutrition awareness and education is particularly important to prevent further escalation of NCD’s globally. This conference covers various aspects of nutrition and the conference had grown over the last two years since its inception. Experts from around the global will share the latest information in the field of nutrition during the course of this conference.”
The conference will discuss current issues related to human nutrition sciences and therapeutic food science.
The conference will focus on global recommendations for facilitating nutrition research to help address major challenges in nutrition , including malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight – whether in children, adults or the elderly – in order to meet the global nutrition targets by 2020.
The conference will also discuss nutritional strategies to tackle non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pre- and post-operative nutrition protocols, clinical nutrition in intensive care units, nutrition of athletes, malnutrition and gastrointestinal disorders.
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 DHA and His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami is the Chairman of the Board and 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.
