200 heart patients to get free treatment

Zulekha Healthcare Group and Dar Al Ber Society to raise funds through donations as part of joint initiative

Zulekha Healthcare Group and Dar Al Ber Society have launched a new fund for providing free treatment, health care and specialised operations to 200 heart patients by raising at least Dh7 million to Dh10 million through donations.

‘Nabd Al Khair’ (Pulse of Goodness), which comes in line with the Year of Zayed, serves the cardiac medical needs of those who cannot afford treatment.

It was launched in the presence of Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary - Public Health Policy and Licencing Sector, Ministry of Health and Prevention; Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Executive Director, Dar Al Ber; Dr Zulekha Daud, Founder and Chairperson, Zulekha Healthcare Group, and others.

Donations can be made, and more information can be gathered, by sending an email to Daralber@Daralber.ae

Individuals who cannot afford to pay for high-end cardiac treatments can approach Dar Al Ber and Zulekha Healthcare Group for assistance. The hospital’s facilities in Dubai and Sharjah each treat around 80 to 100 cardiac cases in a month.

“The campaign is targeted towards heart patients in need of an operation — patients of all ages and from every walk of life. Patients selected for approved services will immediately begin treatment,” Al Falasi said. Treatment for patients with emergency cases requiring immediate surgery will be prioritised.

Zanubia Shams, Zulekha Hospital’s co-chairperson, said: “We are excited to launch the Nabd Al Khair social fund in association with Dar Al Ber Society to help save deserving lives and assist in the financial burden of such medical care. We already established our exclusive Cardiology Centre of Excellence that is equipped with the latest innovations and technologies in cardiac care along with highprofile experts including paediatric cardiologists and CABG surgeons from various specialities. We are able to manage and treat congenital emergencies in children too.”

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the associated burden are increasing in developing countries, particularly in the UAE, and represent a key challenge in healthcare. At 37 per cent, CVD also accounts for a significant proportion of global deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases among individuals aged under 70.

is the amount the campaign hopes to raise