Ministry of Health & Prevention inaugurates Family Health Promotion Center in Ras Al Khaimah

UAE, November 9, 2016- The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention recently inaugurated the Family Health Promotion Center in Ras Al Khaimah in the presence of Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Health Centers and Clinics; and Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Medical District, Dr. Ayesha Suhail, Director of Primary Healthcare; and Dr. Fadila Sharif, Director of the Health Education and Promotion Department. The newly opened facility will provide services such as early detection of breast cancer to meet healthcare needs of the emirate in accordance with the highest standards of medical practices.

The center occupies a strategic position and consists of clinics for periodic health screening, healthy lifestyle and smoking cessation. It also contain preventive dental clinic, mammogram department and in the future will be equipped with a section for osteoporosis screening. 

Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention’s Health Centers and Clinics, said: “The Centre comes under the framework of the Ministry’s strategy to provide quality healthcare services for the local community as per the best international standards. This aims to enhance the health and well-being of the people by reducing the onset of lifestyle diseases as well as to implement the UAE Cabinets’ initiatives, including the ‘National Periodic Screening” and ‘Cancer screening’ under ‘Itminan’ scheme. This will limit the spread of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer such as breast, cervical and colorectal among the people of the UAE.”

The Assistant Undersecretary emphasized that the opening of the Family Health Promotion Center in Ras Al Khaimah represents a qualitative addition to the nation’s healthcare services aimed at providing excellent facilities to the citizens and residents in accordance with the best international practices. He stated that the Ministry will continue to launch initiatives and projects such as primary healthcare as well as develop and modernize its operations across all its UAE-wide facilities.

Dr. Suhail said that the Center will work to spread health awareness and encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles as well as meet people’s need for special medical and preventive services. She urged people to go for regular check-ups for early detection of cancer as it can help in the control and spread of the disease, thereby reducing health, economic and social repercussions. She added that the facility receives visitors from the age of 18 and provides services within ‘Itminan’ initiative that aim to screening for non-communicable diseases and risk factors.

Dr. Haifa Hamad Fares, Head of the Ministry of Health and Prevention's Primary Health Care Program Section reiterated that the Family Health Promotion Center in Ras Al Khaimah will provide preventive services for Emiratis living in the emirate, including periodic checkup for early detection of non-communicable diseases. These includes diagnosis of risk factors for heart disease, especially obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high fat; early detection of common types of cancers such as breast, colon and cervical, and screening for osteoporosis and deficiency of vitamin D, assessment of mental health, and vaccinations for adults. She added that there are other supportive services such as healthy lifestyle center that deal with obese and overweight people to be followed with nutritionists and health educators, smoking cessation, and preventive dental clinics.