Sharjah Health authority to provide free medical tests

Sharjah - Every month, the nurses will visit a different Sharjah government department to offer these free tests to staff and visitors.

The Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) along with University Hospital Sharjah (UHS), offered free health screenings at the Sharjah Directorate of Town Planning and Survey, on May 2, where staff and visitors obtained free tests for blood sugar levels, cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). A team of nurses from UHS took the tests, with over 200 employees and visitors benefitting from them.
Every month, the nurses will visit a different Sharjah government department to offer these free tests to staff and visitors.
"Under the guidance of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, SHA's proactive approach to monitoring and advising people about their state of health is intended to help build and support a healthy and productive workforce, while emphasising the need for early detection and diagnoses of any health conditions," said Abdullah Al Mahyan, Chairman of Sharjah Health Authority.
Al Mahyan added that the SHA's commitment to corporate social responsibility is a core element in helping support the UAE's long-term health strategy.
Speaking about the SHA initiative and on one of the key health issues in the UAE (diabetes), Michael Stroud, CEO and Member of the Board of Trustees at the University Hospital Sharjah, said: "In order to combat the rapid escalation of diabetes in the UAE, it is imperative that effective plans and awareness campaigns are put in place. To this end, UHS is pleased to be supporting Sharjah Health Authority's initiative and to offer our nursing staff as part of the specialist team conducting the free health tests. We also hope to be of service for many more initiatives with SHA in the future."
With the population of Sharjah and the Northern Emirates expected to reach 2.7 million, by 2025, the demand on medical facilities will mean hospitals and the SHA must look to preventative measures as much as treatment, in order to ensure the ongoing and long-term health of the population.
The free diabetes screening initiative comes in the wake of UHS's hugely successful "Pink Caravan" campaign, which spreads awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com