International Atomic Energy Agency experts visit Dubai Health Authority

• Experts discuss ongoing program with the health authorities in the UAE and the upcoming programs for 2016-2018.
• Representatives of all health authorities in the UAE present during the meeting.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 1, 2015: Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency( IAEA) recently visited the Dubai Health Authority to discuss collaboration for future health related projects in the field of medical radiation.

Dr Ahmad Bin Kalban, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at the DHA received the delegation from the IAEA that was headed by Ms. Najat Mokhtar, Director, Division of Asia and the Pacific, Department of Technical Cooperation, IAEA.

Representatives from all health authorities in the UAE also attended the meeting.

IAEA members discussed an overview of the ongoing patient radiation safety and dosimetry project which is being conducted in cooperation with the various health authorities of the UAE. The project was initiated in the beginning of 2014 and will continue until the end of 2015.

They also discussed two upcoming projects for 2016 to 2018 which will take place with the collaboration of health authorities in the UAE. The first project is quality assurance in radiation in medicine including patient radiation safety and dosimetry and the other one is cancer control management.

Dr Kalban said that the DHA is keen to support and cooperate with the IAEA on all such important health related projects which positively impact patient outcomes and protect patients from unnecessary radiation. Radiation safety and dosimetry is an important area of focus to ensure patients are exposed to the least amount of radiation during diagnostic, imaging or therapeutic purposes.

Kalban added that chronic disease research  and management such as the cancer control project which is part of the IAEA’s international project known as ImPACT is of vital importance to help fight cancer by devising plans for building cancer control capacity.

Through PACT (Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy), the IAEA helps Member States optimize the investments made in cancer control through the imPACT Review, a cancer control assessment tool. This is the first time UAE health authorities are taking part in this project.

Dr Abdulrehman Al Jassmi, CEO of Dubai Hospital, said: “ The DHA is keen to take part in the cancer control program which is an extremely in-depth program that looks into the frequency of cancer, its causes, types, age group, male to female ratio, diagnostic methods, treatment, palliative approach in cancer  as well as prevention and early screening.”

Dr Jamila Suwaidi, Consultant Medical Physicist and Chairperson of Radiation Protection Committee at the DHA and Project Coordinator for IAEA projects in UAE & DHA Project Director said: “ The DHA is proud of its association and collaboration with the IAEA and we aim to continue this partnership. Research and adoption of best practises are vital tools in the medical field and through the implementation of such projects we can further improve patient radiation safety.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from the health authorities in the UAE including the UAE Ministry of Health, Health Authority- Abu Dhabi(HAAD), SEHA and military health services.

From the DHA, Ms Farida Al Khaja, Director of Clinical Support Services at Dubai Hospital and Dr Shaheenah Dawood, Head of Medical Oncology and the Head of the Breast Cancer Program at Dubai Hospital and also attended the meeting.

From the IAEA, Dr Jane Gerardo Abaya, Section Head for the Technical Cooperation Department in Asia and the Pacific and Programme Management Officer and Linda Eid, technical cooperation coordinator of the UAE permanent mission to IAEA also attended the meeting.