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Consulting & Development
Health Care (Germany)
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Medical
News | Saturday, 16 February, 2008 |
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30%
of women screened at Ministry of
Health suffer from low bone mass
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(ArabMedicare.com
News) -- According to a
screening conducted for the
employees of the Ministry of
Health during November 2007,
30% of females suffer from
low bone mass with an
average age of only 36.
However, out of the males
screened, 26% of
participants have low bone
mass with an average age of
merely 42 years. The
screening was held as part
of the osteoporosis campaign
with the joint venture of
Dubai Bone and Joint Center
(DBAJ), the Ministry of
Health (MOH) and Anlene
Milk, to raise awareness
about osteoporosis in the
UAE.
"These results, which
indicate that up to a
quarter of Ministry of
Health employees have low
bone mass, are extremely
worrying," stated Dr.
Humeira Badsha, Specialist
Rheumatologist at Dubai Bone
and Joint Center, "The
screening so far have
confirmed fears that the UAE
residents may not be
consuming enough calcium
through a proper diet. In
addition, people are not
getting sufficient sunlight
even in one of the world's
sunniest climates, which
provides Vitamin D and
contributes to stronger
bones."
The campaign has been an
ongoing event since its
launch in May 2007 by DBAJ
during the "Bone Health
week". Held at primary
health care centers
throughout the UAE, the main
objective of the campaign is
to raise awareness about how
residents can protect
themselves from osteoporosis
and the side effects of weak
bones.
Typically, someone suffering
from osteoporosis will have
fragile bones, which are
more like to fracture. The
common areas are the hips,
spine and wrist. This can
lead to immobility,
hospitalization, and a
decrease in the quality of
life, and in some cases to
mortality.
The goal of DBAJ, MOH and
Anlene screening campaign is
to collect data across the
UAE to create more accurate
statistics about the
percentage of osteoporosis
in the Gulf region. The
information gathered by
measuring bone density can
then help doctors determine
the best preventive measures
and treatment for the
disease.
The remainder of the
initiative, running through
March 2008, will have events
across the entire UAE
including bone screenings in
MOH primary medical centers
in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah,
Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Quwain
and Dubai; as well as at the
malls, supermarkets and
Union cooperatives over the
next four months with the
aim of screening
approximately 12,000
individuals. The data will
be published later and can
be used to provide doctors
and scientists with a more
factual study on the
pervasiveness of
osteoporosis in the UAE,
which will be announced at
the end of the campaign.
Posted:
16/FEB/08
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