Zulekha group, Dar Al Ber tie up to raise Dhs10m for cardiac care
The project was launched as the country celebrates the “Year of Zayed” in honour of the UAE founding president the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
DUBAI: Dar Al Ber Society executive director Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi and Zulekha Healthcare Group (Zulekha) founder/chairperson Dr Zulekha Daud signed on Sunday the “Contract of Agreement” for “Nabd Al Khair” (“Pulse of Goodness”) cardiac care services project that seeks to raise Dhs10 million for the emergency or necessary heart surgical and rehabilitation procedures of the destitute and the disadvantaged in the UAE.
Dar Al Ber was established in 1979 As A “CHARITY, Cultural AND social irm” through the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs and under the directive of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Zulekha currently operates three multi-disciplinary hospitals (Sharjah, Dubai and Nagpur in India), four medical centres and three pharmacies since the young Daud arrived in Sharjah in 1961 as a physician.
WORLD HEART DAY
The project was launched as the country celebrates the “Year of Zayed” in honour of the UAE founding president the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and in observation of the World Heart Day on Sept.29, Saturday.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion were led by Ministry of Health and Prevention-public Policy & Licencing Sector assistant undersecretary Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri and Indian Consul General to Dubai Shri Vipul.
Two BENEICIARIES were presented. Interviewed in the press conference held at The Address Boulevard, Al Falasi said the Dhs10 million target “is just the start and this may be increased” depending on the response of the donors who may channel their donations direct to the Dar Al Ber Society headquarters on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.
As per the cards distributed at the event, benefactors may also course their donations through the bank accounts with IBAN AE330500000000011531322 and IBAN AE370240007520500334207.
One way to help is to “send SHUKRAN to the following numbers Dhs10 (2289), Dhs20 (6025), Dhs50 (2252), Dhs100 (6027), and Dhs200 (6026).”
Moreover, enquiries could be through DARALBER@DARALBER.AE.
Al Falasi said the eligibility of the patients for the fund shall be determined by the case analysis of the group of cardiologists from Zulekha as the healthcare institution may also refer cases to Dar Al Ber Society.
Daud told The Gulf Today: “We have been partnering with Dar Al Ber Society for various initiatives like for cancer cases. We took another opportunity as we saw the need to help those in need.”
SURGERIES
Daud said that while all surgeries and rehabilitation would be performed at the hospitals in Sharjah or Dubai, there may be instances that patients wanting to be taken care of by their families in INDIA may BE lown THERE For treatment in collaboration with Air India.
On the sidelines, Zulekha co-chairperson Zanubia Shams said cardiac procedures may range from Dhs25,000 to Dhs150,000.
At the press conference, she said ,“there is a real need (for this initiative). Human life is human life. Life is a fundamental right which God has given each one of us. Dar Al Ber Society has inspired us. We want to give everybody a fair chance to ight For THEIR LIFE. It Is A GREAT THING to contribute for the life that each of us has the right to.” On the sidelines, Zulekha Cardiac Surgery consultant Dr MOHAMMED Helmy DESCRIBED THE irst two fund recipients.
THE irst From Pakistan ‘was An urgent case’. He underwent emergency open heart surgery and coronary bypass. He is on his way to recovery.
The second patient from India will have to go through “aortic valvular replacement.” It had been estimated that global deaths every year due to cardiovascular illnesses would be at 22.2 million by 2030 from 17.5 million in 2012.
NCD DEATHS
As per the 2016 data on the noncommunicable diseases (Ncds)-related deaths in the UAE from the World Health Organisation, 40 per cent were attributed to cardiovascular causes; 17 per cent due to injuries; 15 per cent due to other NCDS; 12 per cent due to cancers; six per cent due to communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions; and ive per Cent DUE to DIABETES.