Category: Medical

ABU DHABI, The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in cooperation with health authorities, has begun providing Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children aged 5 to 11 years. The vaccine is administered as two doses, with the second dose given three weeks after the first.

The move is part of the UAE’s post-COVID-19 recovery plan and is an affirmation of the country’s proactive approach to ensuring the health and safety of community members.

In a statement, the ministry said that the vaccine is voluntary and not mandatory, pointing out the decision made based on the clinical evidence and the strict evaluation followed globally and locally, which complies with the approved international regulations.

The ministry reiterated that vaccines are safe and effective, and one of the best tools to protect society and help boost immunity, prevent complications, limit the need for hospitalisation or ICU, especially in light of the new variants.

“The clinical trials of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has recently been approved by the ministry, have proven its safety and effectiveness for children,” said Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary of Public Health Sector at Ministry of Health and Prevention, and Chairman of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Provisions of International Health Regulations and Prevention of Pandemics. “For several decades, children around the globe have been receiving safe vaccines against various diseases and viruses, and COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, are no different than those vaccines.”

Al Rand added the carefully-studied decision is a significant step towards the COVID-19 recovery and the immunisation of the wider community, urging parents to visit vaccine centres to get their children vaccinated.

He made it clear that vaccinating children will protect them and preserve the health of those around them, especially the elderly, as well as achieve the herd immunity necessary to limit the spread of the virus.

This comes in line with the UAE’s recovery plan, which aims to vaccinate 100 percent of the target groups.

Al Rand noted that the UAE topped the global indicators in the efficiency of responding to the pandemic, thanks to the guidance and support of the leadership and the exceptional efforts of the health authorities in terms of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, early detection of confirmed cases, and rapid intervention to prevent its complications.

He added that the UAE has also one of the fastest vaccination campaigns, which is a significant achievement for the UAE proving that it is one of the most important successful global models.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 491,658 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.

In a statement, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment. As part of its intensified testing campaign, MoHAP announced 2,232 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 851,537.

According to the Ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, are in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care.

MoHAP also announced 2 deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 2,253.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished COVID-19 patients a speedy and full recovery. It called on all members of the society to cooperate with health authorities, adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all.

MoHAP also noted that an additional 1,427 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 780,893.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced that 28,487 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the past 24 hours.

The total number of doses provided up to today stands at 23,637,821 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 239 doses per 100 people.

This is in line with the Ministry’s plan to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to all members of society and efforts to reach acquired immunity resulting from the vaccination, which will help reduce the number of cases and control the virus.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Doctors at Tawam Hospital, part of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), have successfully removed multiple benign brain tumours from a 52-year-old Iraqi woman.

The complex 22-hour surgery was carried out for two days by a multidisciplinary team of specialists led by the hospital’s Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. Mohammed Asha.

When the patient was referred to Tawam Hospital, she was suffering from difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and paralysis of the vocal cords on the left side. Examined by a team of ENT specialists and neurologists, images showed the presence of multiple tumours, with large sizes of 3 to 6 cm, in the neck and the base of the skull, which non-invasive methods could not treat.

After careful examination, the combined team of Neurosurgery and ENT at Tawam Hospital arranged a complex surgical plan that included multiple stages of operation over two consecutive days. The procedure started with the tumours being dissected from the woman’s neck before doctors moved up to the skull base. The surgical team performed a craniotomy to remove tumours from around the brainstem on the second day.

Dr. Asha, who specialises in brain tumour surgery and skull base surgery, led the multidisciplinary team that oversaw the successful removal of all traces of the tumours without compromising the patient’s neurological functions. As a result, the patient fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital within a few days. She has since returned to her normal life after a period of swallowing rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

Dr. Mohammed Asha, FRCS (SN), Consultant Neurosurgeon at Tawam Hospital, said, “These kinds of tumours require extensive surgical interventions and are often labelled as surgically untreatable due to its complexity and the severe risks involved. With the latest technologies and a highly-skilled multidisciplinary medical team, the tumours can be successfully removed without damaging the nerves.

“With the operation lasting 22 hours, it is an incredibly complex and intricate surgery that is only possible with the dedication and skill of our team at Tawam Hospital. The success of this surgery and the fact the patient was able to recover in record time with no complications is an incredible milestone that is a testament to SEHA’s commitment towards offering pioneering multidisciplinary medical care. We are proud to be able to position the UAE as a healthcare hub that achieves global standards.”

The patient and her family have since expressed their gratitude to the UAE, its leadership and SEHA’s medical team for the excellent care that she had received. Since the operation, the patient’s condition has improved, all senses functioning normally and with no post-operation complications.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) in collaboration with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, successfully concluded the second edition of the Abu Dhabi International Mental Health Conference (ADIMHC).

The two-day hybrid event, held on the 28th and 29th of January 2022, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, welcomed over 2,300 delegates as part of its largest edition to date.

On the opening day of ADIMHC, Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Under-Secretary at the DoH, showcased the department’s new mental health model and asserted Abu Dhabi’s commitment to improving the quality of life for patients suffering from mental and psychological illnesses. The model will utilise international best practices in accordance with the highest regional and international standards, positioning healthcare in the UAE amongst the best in the world.

The model will also integrate an advanced mental health workforce into the primary care community, launch a comprehensive regulatory framework dedicated to the delivery of mental health care services and a psychological wellbeing tracking system.

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department rolled out several initiatives and partnered with a number of entities to ensure mental health support is available for all members of our community. We joined forces with the National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing to launch 800 HOPE, a mental help support line dedicated to providing safe and confidential counselling around the clock. Similarly, we collaborated with the Department of Community Development, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and SEHA to support residents facing mental pressure through the Istijaba call centre,” Al Kaabi said.

Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Executive Director of the Community Health Sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, spoke about the importance of community mental health, the role of educational and awareness campaigns and the role of society as a whole in improving awareness and early detection.

Dr. Nahida Niaz Ahmed, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chair of the Behavioral Health Council at SEHA, said, “We are extremely proud to work with the DOH in creating a health system that prioritises mental health. We would like to thank the DOH for their continued collaboration and for spearheading a much-needed change in the society’s outlook towards mental health patients.”

The conference featured an entire section on the integration of psychiatry with multiple disciplines to address mental health challenges faced by patients suffering from chronic diseases.

Source: Emirates News Agency