Free heart health testing for women in UAE shopping malls

Dubai: With cardiovascular disease (CVD) causing 45 per cent of deaths in the Gulf, a new month-long initiative by Majid Al Futtaim was launched to raise awareness on cardiovascular health and offer preventative heart health testing for women in eight shopping malls in the UAE.

The regional health awareness campaign, which will also be available in six other Majid Al Futtaim-owned shopping malls in Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Lebanon, was launched yesterday in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Health and City Centre Clinic and will have a special focus on women.

Visitors will have access to preventative testing and professional health advice from May 8 to June 12 to prevent CVD.

“CVDs have emerged as the leading cause of death in most countries in the Middle East, causing 45 per cent of early deaths in the Gulf region, and women are not spared despite the common belief that this concerns more men,” said Dr Saud Abdul Aziz Taymoor, cardiac surgeon specialist, Al Qasimi Hospital.

He said the campaign, called ‘Feel the Beat’, will be a platform that will bridge knowledge gaps, support governments as well as health care professionals in raising awareness, “especially with women, and enable our communities to stem the rising tide of cardiovascular diseases. The UAE Ministry of Health is proud to collaborate with Majid Al Futtaim on this campaign across the United Arab Emirates”.

Participating malls in the UAE include Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif; City Centre Deira; City Centre Ajman; City Centre Fujairah; My City Centre, Nasseriya and City Centre Sharjah.

All shopping malls will have allocated areas to host medical professionals who will administer complimentary testing and conduct check-ups for women. At each designated location, visitors can check their blood pressure, blood sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if they are at risk for heart diseases and if they should follow-up with more extensive examination.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the developing world, with hypertension and diabetes being the most common risk factors,” said Omar Al Shunnar, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Healthcare.

He said that obesity, inactivity, smoking and poor dietary choices with high consumption of snacks, fatty foods, sugar, and fast food are also risk factors.

“Education and awareness campaigns are crucial in the Gulf region to manage the risk of cardiovascular disease. ‘Feel the Beat’ by Majid Al Futtaim, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and City Centre Clinic, will help promote health and well-being through preventative health and early detection of serious health diseases,” Al Shunnar said.

The theme of the campaign —‘Feel the Beat’— was chosen as it refers to the sound of a heartbeat while also referring to music, which can be a great companion when it comes to getting motivated to adopt a healthy lifestyle and exercising.