Mobile clinic will test 5,000 for signs of disease
Tour which began in Sharjah will move to Dubai
Sharjah: The Ministry of Health launched a free diabetes medical test initiative in Sharjah on Tuesday. The tests will be done on board a bus which will move to Dubai and then to Abu Dhabi.
"The first round [of the diabetes bus tour] will make about 5,000 early diabetes screening tests ... in the three emirates," said Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies at the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Higher National Committee for Diabetes.
The bus tour, which was inaugurated by Dr Hanif Hassan Al Qassim, Minister of Health, is located next to the Sharjah Cooperative Society in the Halwan area and will be there until November 19. The bus tour will then be in Dubai from November 23 to December 6, and then in Abu Dhabi from December 20 to January 4, 2011.
The tour is organised by the Ministry of Health in co-operation with NovoNordsk, Esteno Diabetes Centre, Sharjah Cooperative Association and the Diabetes Friendly Association. "Researches and studies have shown that diabetes is increasing enormously in the UAE. The diabetes bus was launched to mark World Diabetes Day on November 14 [Sunday], and aims to raise the awareness of the community members with the disease," said Dr Fikri.
Visitors
He pointed out that the medical tests are free for all visitors as part of the ministry's aim to increase preventive medicine programmes, as well as the role of societal partnerships and the private sector to help combat diseases. A medical fully equipped car will escort the tour which will operate from 5pm to 11pm on weekdays.
"The diabetes bus tour has previously achieved great results in raising the awareness of the society to get screened for early diabetes," said Dr Fikri, adding that the tests are not done for those under 30 years of age, according to the agreement with the Health Researches Ethics Committee in the UAE.
Visitors on the bus will be offered information booklets.
