Lifestyle changes pushed to prevent killer diseases

Abu Dhabi: Through its Weqaya (precaution) Screening Programme, the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) expects to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes among Emiratis by 75 per cent within the next 10 years.

Speaking during his presentation at the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress 2010, Dr Oliver Harrison, Director of Public Health and Policy at the HAAD, said: "We have screened 97 per cent of the adult population [over 18 years], and are working closely with each and every single individual since that time," he said.

Pragmatic behaviour changes require three mechanisms: encourage, enable and enforce, said Harrison.

"We're in the business of understanding the biological challenges nature has deployed on individuals, and tackling individual behaviours. One can change patterns of behaviour through ongoing experiments and education awareness."

When asked what HAAD's initiatives are with expatriates across the emirate, the public health expert said: "There's a programme for low paid expatriates through different health insurance programmes. We're exploring the prevalence of different diseases among expatriates during their short stay in the country, through healthy lifestyle programmes."

HAAD is also in talks with the Urban Planning Council and the Abu Dhabi Food Authority on introducing more affordable fruits and vegetables in the market.

"We're trying to empower individuals to make decisions for themselves," he said.

Promotion

In addition, HAAD has worked on health promotion across 458 schools in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), to make sure vending machines have healthy drinks; food that students bring to school is healthy, and that canteens sell healthy food.

In addition, schools now offer healthy lifestyle tips for students, whose body mass indexes are calculated by school nurses yearly.

A Live Smoke-Free federal law is also in the works, said Harrison.

"We are working on developing a federal law to prevent smoking completely, especially in areas where there are children."

Numbers: Health meter

Key health statistics of Abu Dhabi-based Emiratis above 18 years old

- 36 per cent are obese

-  21 per cent have evidence of diabetes

- 36 per cent have high lipid levels warranting treatment

- 17 per cent have high blood pressure

- 23 per cent males admit they smoke

- 90 per cent females in their 40s and 50s are overweight

- 50 per cent of Emiratis over 50 have Type 2 diabetes