DHA's Alzheimer's support group holds awareness campaign.

Awareness campaign held at Arabian Centre mall.

DHA encourages elderly to undertake  risk assessment form for early detection and management of Alzheimer's.

DHA also demonstrates IT features that will be available once Android tablets are implemented across DHA hospitals and health centres.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, September 6, 2013: His Excellency Engineer Essa Essa Al Maidoor, director-general of the Dubai Health Authority(DHA) recently inaugurated the Alzheimer's awareness campaign that was organised by the DHA's community centre for the Elderly at Arabian Centre mall.

The centre launched the Friend's of Alzheimer's support group in June this year. The support group holds awareness and educational meeting on the first Thursday of every month. This month the group decided to reach out to a larger audience base and held the awareness campaign at a mall. 

The centre distributed a risk assessment form to the elderly patients and their family members. If the assessment form showed that the person has a risk of developing Alzheimer's, they were requested to visit the elderly centre for further investigation and management in order to prolong the onset of the disease.

HE Al Maidoor said: “ The aim of such activities is to enhance interaction between the caregivers and the community. Early detection is crucial to manage and control complications of the disease and through such activities we aim to empower people with health information so that they can take  preventive steps to protect their health and the health of their loved ones.”

Dr Ahmad bin Kalban, CEO of Primary Healthcare Centre said: “Nearly 70 per cent of the patients at our elderly centre suffer from this disease. Presently medications can only slow the pace of deterioration that patients with this condition suffer from. Therefore, the role of caregivers and healthcare professionals is pivotal for timely diagnose and management of this condition. Awareness of this disease and recognizing early signs and symptoms is important and in the care of Alzheimer's, family members need to aware so that they can help in early detection of the disease.”

Jassem Mohammed Kalban, acting-director of the Community Centre for the Elderly added that in addition to this community awareness initiative, the Community Centre for the Elderly has recently launched an Alzheimer's hotline. “The aim through this helpline is to be at their service, day or night so that they can better serve Alzheimer's patients. The hotline  provides reliable information and support to caregivers, healthcare professionals and the public.”

He said that age is the most important risk factor for this disease. “After 65, every five years of ageing, the risk of developing the disease doubles and almost 50 per cent of people aged 85 develop this disease.”

He said symptoms include forgetfulness, isolation, irritability, suspiciousness and loneliness.

The 24/7 Alzheimer's helpline (056 3710077) provides information about the disease, medications and treatment options as well as information about how to provide quality care.

In addition to this activity at the mall, the DHA's customer service section carried out an awareness drive to educate the public about the launch of Android tablets across the waiting areas of DHA primary healthcare centres and hospital beds.

Shaikha Ahmed Al Rahoomi, director of Customer Relations Department at the DHA said:  “Within the next few months every DHA hospital bed will have an Android tablet so that patients and their family members have access to information including government e-services, pharmacy services, rehabilitation services, feedback and suggestions mechanism as well as access to the internet through the wi-fi network.

“We wanted to educate the public about the e-services that will be available to them. The DHA presently has several e-services and Android applications which include synchronization of your child's vaccination schedule so that you receive timely alerts etc. The aim of this awareness activity was to educate them about our e-services as well as gather feedback so that we can further enhance our e-services.”

For more information about DHA e-services, please visit the website www.dha.gov.ae or alternatively call on 800 342.