Today's Edition
HALA AL-KHAYYAT (ABU DHABI)
The Emirates Red Crescent Authority (ERC), in partnership with the Emirates School Education Foundation and the UAE Congenital Heart Association, launched a national campaign to raise awareness about congenital heart diseases.
The campaign aims to examine one million male and female students in both public and private schools to detect any cases affected by congenital heart disorders. It will target students aged between three and 18, and it is the first health initiative of its magnitude, spanning across the Arab World and the Middle East.
It also intends to reduce the number of people affected by congenital heart diseases within the UAE, minimise its risks at the state level, educate community members about congenital heart impairments and their lifelong effects, raise awareness about these issues among all community members, and prepare a documented scientific study.
The campaign, which adopted the slogan "Prevention and Protection", will include a series of preventive heart examinations, in addition to organising awareness campaigns about the risks of congenital heart diseases and ways to prevent them.
This issue is pressing as the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrests decreases by 10% with each minute of delay. During the press conference on Tuesday, held at the ERC headquarters to mark the launch of the campaign, in the presence of Hamood Abdullah Al Junaibi, the Acting Secretary-General of the ERC, Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Deputy Secretary-General for Local Affairs at the ERC, said that the campaign comes as part of the UAE's interest in human health, which is at the centre of its development process.
The wise leadership of the UAE has spared no effort in providing advanced health services and decent living conditions for its citizens and residents.
Al Mansouri pointed out that the campaign aims to highlight the health threats facing the country's students and enhance the community's ability to tackle its risks through early periodic detection, training and qualifying medical personnel, upgrading health services, and promoting health awareness and education, ensuring safety and security for all citizens and residents.
Al Mansouri said that the ERC plays an essential role in supporting national efforts in the field of health awareness and community first aid, ensuring its safety and protection from disease risks and general health challenges.
The Deputy Secretary-General said: "The national campaign to raise awareness of congenital heart diseases among students follows the operational plan and strategy of the Red Crescent in the field of community safety and health. It's a part of the Authority's strategy to meet the local community's needs and contribute to supporting health-related programmes implemented by the state."
For her part, Houria Ahmed Al-Ahmad, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the UAE Congenital Heart Association, pointed out that this health initiative is the first of its kind. It also follows the strategy of the UAE's National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing. Al-Ahmad said: "The campaign includes two programmes. The first is a medical programme in which examinations are conducted to protect our students from congenital heart defects. The second is an awareness programme that includes hosting lectures, seminars, scientific conferences, and distributing awareness brochures about the risks and prevention of congenital heart diseases through all media within the country."
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) affirmed that this humanitarian campaign aligns with the state's and the wise government's interest in providing a safe health environment for students. "The belief that children are the makers of tomorrow and the builders of the nation's future is one of the main priorities of the ESE. Hence, it is imperative for all of us to work for their benefit and provide them with all the elements needed to face this challenge, which threatens their health and lives, allowing them to enjoy good health," Al Amiri said.
She added: "The Emirates Schools Establishment supports and appreciates the constructive role of the campaign, which conducts a series of medical examinations to detect any congenital heart defects among our students, carries out awareness campaigns about the risks and prevention of congenital heart diseases, and works to reduce the number of those afflicted."
