Dh10m fund to make cardiac care more accessible in UAE

Dubai - The charitable scheme, in honour of the 'Year of Zayed', is to mark the legacy of giving back to the community.

The Dar Al Ber Society, in collaboration with Zulekha Healthcare Group, unveiled a nationwide charity campaign on Sunday to make advanced cardiac care affordable and accessible to all communities in the UAE.
The cardiac social fund themed 'Nabd Al Khair' or 'Pulse of Goodness' is expected to initially collect and spend Dh10 million on the eligible patients to be referred to the society by Zulekha Hospital, after checking their financial situations.
The charitable scheme, in honour of the 'Year of Zayed', is to mark the legacy of giving back to the community and promoting the strong values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the country.
Abdullah Al Falasi, executive director of the Dar Al Ber Society, said the initiative exclusively serves the cardiac medical needs of the needy. "The campaign aims to provide free treatment, healthcare and specialised operations to 200 heart patients by collecting up to Dh10 million through donations."
Donations are welcomed from any public or private company, institution or individual who wishes to support the research and services provided for those suffering from heart disease, Al Falasi said.
"The campaign is targeted at heart patients in need of an operation - patients of all ages. Patients selected for approved services will immediately begin treatment," he added. "However, priority will be given to patients who need immediate surgery."
The individuals who cannot afford to pay for high-end cardiac treatments can approach Dar Al Ber and Zulekha Healthcare Group for assistance, he said.
Zanubia Shams, co-chairperson of Zulekha Hospital, said cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the associated burden are increasing in developing countries, particularly in the UAE, and represent a key challenge in healthcare.
"CVD also accounts for a significant proportion of global deaths caused by non-communicable diseases among individuals aged under 70 (37 per cent)."
If intervention is not improved, global annual CVD deaths will increase from 17.5 million in 2012 to 22.2 million by the year 2030, she warned. "We have already established our exclusive Cardiology Centre of Excellence."
The hospital's facilities in Dubai and Sharjah attend and treat approximately 80 to 100 cardiac cases in a month, she added.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com