Hospitals brace for uptick in typhoid and bacterial infections; and mosquito- and fly-borne diseases like dengue
Nearly half of UAE residents — 47 per cent — are not aware of Hepatitis B, according to a recent survey done ahead of World Hepatitis Day, which is being observed today.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by a virus and, if left untreated, it could turn into a life-threatening condition.
An estimated 15.5 million people in the Middle East and North Africa are chronically infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, its prevalence among the Emirati population is only between 1 and 1.5 per cent.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a target to reduce new viral hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths due to viral hepatitis by 65 per cent by 2030.
The survey reveals there is a lack of awareness about the disease with the majority of respondents (84 per cent) not knowing that it can be asymptomatic and less than a quarter (21 per cent) knowing how it can be transmitted.
A majority (85 per cent) of the respondents are not aware of how HBV is prevented, while 92 per cent believe that the disease cannot be treated easily. Only a quarter of the respondents believe that HBV can lead to serious health complications.
“The lack of awareness around HBV means securing appropriate and prompt treatment remains a challenge,” said Dr Mohamed Farghaly, professor of medicine at Dubai Medical College, consultant and CEO advisor of Dubai Health Insurance Corporation (DHIC).
“General practitioners and healthcare physicians also have limited knowledge and expertise in this field, so it is essential to seek advice from specialist centres to ensure that an optimal treatment path is secured. HBV treatment is covered by most medical insurance packages in the UAE so the required care and treatment is easily accessible to patients who need it.”
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
Hospitals brace for uptick in typhoid and bacterial infections; and mosquito- and fly-borne diseases like dengue
With 30% of their inventory damaged, owners of Preloved Books now face the daunting task of rebuilding from scratch
Five-time champions hold their nerve to claim victory by nine runs in the final over at Chandigarh
Natasha Abbas is a British civil engineer who co-founded North 51, a project management consultancy in Dubai
People who are assessing your qualifications can quickly tell the difference between an authentic life narrative and a third-party account
Arab-Canadian public speaking coach and author of The Million Dollar Speaker Maher Elusini on how to make your speech command value for time and money
The legendary Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis, who is all set to perform at the Dubai Opera next week, on music transcending cultural and language barriers
Not every kid is meant to go to university or college. So, it makes sense to teach them entrepreneurial skills early