Children pose for a group photo with the Make-a-Wish Foundation officials in Abu Dhabi on Friday. WAM

The Make-A-Wish Foundation on Friday marked World Heart Day in the UAE by granting the wishes of 18 children with chronic heart diseases.

The children were granted wishes including the opportunity to travel to perform Umrah rituals, a trip to Bosnia, the latest electronic devices, new toys, an electric car and a Barbie doll house.

The foundation hosted the event in the presence of Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi and Sheikha Noor Bint Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Make a Wish Foundation at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), part of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) Network, a PureHealth subsidiary.

Dr Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development commended the "Make-A-Wish" foundation for their humanitarian efforts in fulfilling children's wishes and bringing happiness to their hearts. He also highlighted the collaborative role of government and private partnering organisations in advancing Abu Dhabi's position as an ultimate destination for living, stability, and prosperity.

GIVING NATURE OF UAE SOCIETY

Hani Al Zubaidi, CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, said, "We are grateful to Mugheer Al Khaili for attending this event.

This event showcases the goodness and giving nature of UAE society. The Community Development Department backs charitable initiatives and is committed to supporting the aspirations of the country’s leadership to build a cohesive, happy society.”

Al Zubaidi also extended his appreciation to PureHealth and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City for their ongoing cooperation, for their care for children, and for providing the foundation with the opportunity to meet the children, fulfill their wishes, and bring joy to their hearts.

Al Zubaidi said, "On 29th September, the world marks World Heart Day with the aim of raising public awareness about the risks associated with heart disease and enabling community members to make positive changes in their lives. We were proud to help these children find happiness, strength, hope and optimism with the support and cooperation of our strategic partners.

"Happiness and hope are critical to helping children through their challenging treatment. We will take this opportunity to spread awareness on the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles which contribute to building a better, healthy and disease-free society.”

Bader Bader Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer at SKMC, said, "We take immense pride in our partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to bring hope and joy to our resilient children. Their dreams may be small, but the joy they experience is immeasurable."

At Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, we are deeply committed to providing comprehensive services to all our patients, especially the youngest ones, in line with the vision of PureHealth and the directives of the SEHA Company. We are unwavering in our pursuit of excellence in children’s healthcare and remain devoted to serving our patients and their families.”

AWARENESS EVENT

Also during the day, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has organised an awareness event at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai in commemoration of World Heart Day, observed annually on Sept.29.

The event, staged by MoHAP’s Public Health and Prevention Department-Noncommunicable Diseases Section, aimed to promote heart health awareness amongst RTA's staff, shed light on risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases, and emphasise the importance of regular medical examinations.The awareness event featured an informative lecture providing an in-depth overview of cardiovascular diseases, their causative factors, and the impact they have on individuals’ quality of life.

The lecture outlined preventive measures, including adhering to a healthy, low-salt diet, engaging in regular exercise and sports activities, and maintaining a healthy weight.

In addition to the lecture, the event offered various medical screenings for the employees. These health checks included blood pressure measurements, body mass and cholesterol checks, and risk assessments for cardiovascular diseases for individuals aged 40 and above.

The attendees also received a series of awareness and guidance messages, urging them to adopt practices that support heart health. Dr Buthaina Bin Belaila Head of Non-Communicable Disease and Mental Health Section at MoHAP, stated: "Organising health awareness initiatives is crucial to the Ministry's efforts being made to enhance community health, prevent diseases, and improve the quality of life. World heart Day provides an ideal platform to increase public awareness about the importance of heart health, educate individuals about risk factors, and promote medical check-ups that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

"Dr Buthaina further called upon all individuals to engage in heart-healthy practices, emphasising the importance of proper nutrition, physical activity, obesity reduction, and quitting smoking."

She highlighted the necessity of periodic medical check-ups, which collectively contribute to preventing the spread of cardiovascular diseases and improving the nation’s health indicators in alignment with the government’s strategic and sustainable development objectives.

WAM