Charity to set up Dh43m diabetes centre

A Dh43 million diabetes centre, the first of its kind in the region, is to be set up in the United Arab Emirates by the Sheikh Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Organisation. The centre will provide medical treatment and advice to diabetic patients.

The number of people suffering from diabetes in the UAE now represents 15 per cent of the national population. Diabetes is a major cause of other health problems such as blindness and kidney failure. The project was announced by Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Organisation. He did not give any further details.

Sheikh Ahmed also announced the completion of three mosques in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah which opened their doors to worshippers yesterday, the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The building of the mosques was funded by the organisation.

According to Sheikh Ahmed, the newly constructed mosques are among the biggest in the Emirates and have a unique architecture. They each have room for 3,400 devotees.

Highlighting international projects, Sheikh Ahmed announced the end of work on Sheikh Zayed's mosque in Britain and Sheikh Zayed's school in New Zealand, which is one of the huge projects undertaken by the organisation. Also, a total of Dh2.8 million has been dedicated to 50 welfare centres in the country.

Another new Dh55.5 million project called "Zayed's Benefaction Springs" involves the drilling of 1,000 wells which will help preserve drinking water for thousands of African families in villages suffering from drought.

He said that assistance totalling Dh128,450 will be given to a number of African universities and research centres, particularly those which fall under the umbrella of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

The Organisation has also approved one million dirhams for the maintenance of Al Mashhad mosque in Yemen which was built by Sheikh Zayed in 1992, and Dh9.1 million for relief projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, among others.