ABU DHABI // High blood pressure and diabetes are two common health issues for labourers that doctors hope to tackle by offering free check-ups throughout the summer.
Mobile clinics fitted with X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment and electrocardiogram machines are travelling around the country to check the health of hundreds of workers.
Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, managing director of VPS Healthcare, the group running the project, said many workers who had high blood pressure were unaware of it.
“High blood pressure can be dangerous for workers if left untreated,” he said
“Labourers are a group of people who complain less but deserve more.”
The first clinic opened in Mussaffah, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, with labourers checked for a range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which can be fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated.
Each of the mobile clinics is being staffed with general practitioners, specialists, radiologists, nurses, dieticians and paramedics to ensure that all healthcare requirements can be treated.
“This idea is to improve the lives of labourers working hard in the UAE,” Dr Vayalil said.
“Labourers have busy days and are often unaware if they are diabetic or have hypertension. Screening for basic tests like blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol will let the workers know how healthy they are so we can offer advice and get them to hospital or to see a specialist.”
Clinics are visiting Mussaffah Workers Village, Hameem, Mafraq Al Raha Village and Saadiyat Accommodation Village, collectively home to more than 400,000 workers.
A small team of doctors will screen for various conditions, taking chest X-rays, performing ultrasound and blood tests on workers who may have existing but undiagnosed health problems.
“Some are diabetic and have poor eyesight as a result, so keep getting hand injuries because their coordination is affected,” Dr Vayalil said.
“They don’t know why this is happening until they are screened. There is a cost implication here also – by diagnosing conditions early, we can offer better preventive medicine that should reduce the need for more complex and expensive treatment in future.”
Workers are educated at the time of screening through health information leaflets in several languages.
“Most common problems are related to dental and dietary issues,” said Dr Madhusudana Rao, medical director at Lifecare Hospital, Mussaffah.
“Our doctors will be working on a daily basis, offering education and guidance on where these men can get the most suitable care.
“Checks are taking place between 3pm and 9pm so they are not too disruptive and encourage as many as possible to take advantage of this campaign. We know we can’t treat everyone but we will try to get to as many as possible.”
Last year, more than 4,000 -labourers were offered a free dental check-up in Dubai to assess oral health at the College of Dental Medicine in Dubai Healthcare City.
During the seven-month programme, dentists found more than a third of the men had not had a check-up before, despite 46 per cent admitting to persistent dental pain.
Free health screenings were offered by Dubai Health Authority to mark International Labour Day on Monday.
Sessions took place in Nad Al Hammar primary healthcare centre and included medical and dental check-ups, a smoke analyser test to gauge the carbon monoxide levels of smokers, with doctors offering advice on how to quit smoking.
“This day is an opportunity for us to express our gratefulness to workers for their dedication and commitment,” said Humaid Al Qatami, DHA director general.
“Such initiatives are crucial to demonstrate our appreciation for the work that they undertake and to help create a positive and appreciative work environment.”
nwebster@thenational.ae
PROVISIONAL FIXTURE LIST
Premier League
Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm
Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton 9pm; Tottenham v Manchester United 11pm
Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm
Sunday, June 21 Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm; Aston Villa v Chelsea 7.30pm; Everton v Liverpool 10pm
Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley 11pm (Sky)
Tuesday, June 23 Southampton v Arsenal 9pm; Tottenham v West Ham 11.15pm
Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United 9pm; Newcastle v Aston Villa 9pm; Norwich v Everton 9pm; Liverpool v Crystal Palace 11.15pm
Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm
Sunday June 28 Aston Villa vs Wolves 3pm; Watford vs Southampton 7.30pm
Monday June 29 Crystal Palace vs Burnley 11pm
Tuesday June 30 Brighton vs Manchester United 9pm; Sheffield United vs Tottenham 11.15pm
Wednesday July 1 Bournemouth vs Newcastle 9pm; Everton vs Leicester 9pm; West Ham vs Chelsea 11.15pm
Thursday July 2 Arsenal vs Norwich 9pm; Manchester City vs Liverpool 11.15pm
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
