Dubai Police come to aid of elderly woman

Hospitals refused 90-year-old treatment because she had no ID, health card or visa

Dubai Police helped an elderly woman receive medical treatment. An Asian family who had a 90-year-old relative living with them, contacted the Human Rights Department at Dubai Police asking for help to get her medical treatment, said Major Shaheen Ishaq Al Mazmi, Director of the Child and Women Protection Department.

This is one of the humanitarian cases the department helped in 2015, he said.

“The woman had fallen very ill and did not have a valid visa, Emirates ID nor a health card, so no hospital wanted to treat her,” he said.

The elderly woman was on the head of the household’s visa, but since he passed away 10 years ago, no one renewed her visa.

“This was a humanitarian case, and we took it upon ourselves to get her a health card, which is difficult without a visa. Because of the humanitarian nature of the case, the DHA made an exception and they issued a health card for her,” he said.

The woman received treatment, and the family she is staying with is paying the expenses. “We told them if they cannot afford the medical bills we will also help them with that,” Maj Al Mazmi said.

Dubai Police’s Child and Women Protection Department handled 191 cases between January and September.

Of these cases, 55 were handled by the social support unit, 36 by the children protection unit and 21 by the women’s protection unit.