October 15, 2014 — In an effort to combat the rise of gastrointestinal disease in the UAE, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai announces its commitment to launch a public awareness campaign in November that will include free colon cancer screenings for UAE men and women above age 55.
The announcement was made just days after Al Zahra Hospital Dubai and AXA Gulf achieved the new Guinness world record for the most blood cholesterol readings in 8 hours at a single venue at an event held at Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai from 2 – 10 PM on Friday, October 10, 2014.
“A significant portion of the UAE population is above 50 years old, an age at which people become more prone to degenerative gastrointestinal diseases like colon cancer – the third most prevalent type of cancer in the world,” said Dr. Filippos Georgopoulos, Clinical Lead, Gastroenterology at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. “Special emphasis has to be placed on undergoing examinations that can detect ailments at an early stage to facilitate better treatment and outcomes.”
“Research shows there has been a sizable increase in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and morbid obesity in the last 10 years in UAE,” said Dr. Ritu Khare, Specialist – General, Laparoscopic, Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgeon. “While western influences on diet and lifestyle are partially to blame, western technology has also enabled faster, more accurate investigation, diagnosis and treatment.”
As a “one-stop shop” for gastrointestinal clinical and surgical needs for both adults and children, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai provides effective and specialized solutions to all gastrointestinal problems. A comprehensive, integrated team of diagnostic physicians, dieticians and nutritionists, medical and surgical specialists – including one of the few pediatric gastrointestinal specialists in the UAE – are at the ready to evaluate and treat patients. Further, the hospital can offer patients exclusive woman-to-woman care throughout the entire gastrointestinal investigation, diagnosis and treatment process.
About Al Zahra Hospital Dubai
Al Zahra Hospital Dubai (AZHD) provides premium medical care with modern equipment & team of professional doctors. With a capacity of 187 beds with state-of-the-art facilities; AZHD serves patients with a broad range of individual health services and believes in providing personalized service with a focus on clinical outcome through an evidenced-based medicine approach. AZHD has multidisciplinary teams that include doctors, nurses, technicians and other allied health personnel all working together to improve the health of patients they are servicing.
