A prenatal scan first showed a cyst in the liver measuring about 4cm, but it grew to 8cm shortly after the baby was born     A three-month-old baby born with a giant cyst in her liver has gotten a new lease of life after undergoing a life-saving surgery at a private hospital in Abu Dhabi.  A multidisciplinary team led by a paediatric surgeon at Burjeel Medical City performed a two-hour-long laparoscopic surgery to remove an 8-cm cyst.  A prenatal scan first showed a cyst in the liver measuring about 4cm. The news broke the heart of the couple who were joyfully expecting the arrival of their first child.  “Everything was going well. My wife was perfectly healthy and never experienced any complications. She was six months pregnant when a scan showed growt ... Read More..

The month-long ‘Pinktober’ campaign aims to create awareness among people and to identify undiagnosed cases among high-risk category  Abu Dhabi: In a bid to create awareness about breast cancer and identify undiagnosed cases, VPS Healthcare, one of the UAE’s largest healthcare groups, will organize a massive mammogram screening campaign across the emirate of Abu Dhabi this month. The mammogram screening will be offered as a complimentary service to all. The clinicians of VPS Healthcare will travel in a mammogram truck across the emirates of Abu Dhabi as part of the ‘Pinktober’ campaign. The healthcare group has already tied up with several corporates and government entities, including Adnoc, Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi police, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Fir ... Read More..

One in ten children suffers from asthma, according to a study led by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.   The report - titled Prevalence of asthma and allergies among children in the United Arab Emirates - assessed more than 3,400 children in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.  “Asthma is more likely to develop in young children when the climate changes,” said Dr Saheer Sainalabdeen, a pulmonologist at Medeor Hospital in Dubai.  “As perfumes and incense burned in the home is also more common in Emirati families, it can also have an impact on their lungs and they are also genetically more vulnerable. “Boys are also more vulnerable to asthma than girls, and the study showed those with allergic rhinitis issues were also more likely to de ... Read More..

The Covid-19 pandemic in the UAE is now becoming ‘endemic’ and the country is close to achieving herd immunity, medical experts have said. On Monday, the health authorities reported 124 fresh cases after conducting 276,637 PCR tests, recording a positivity rate of 0.44. More than 20.5 million vaccine doses have been administered so far, with 95 per cent of the eligible population receiving at least one shot.   Comparatively, when the vaccination drive was in its nascent stage, on January 28, a total of 3,966 positive cases were detected from 168,781 PCR tests, a positivity rate of 2.34.   As a result of massive vaccination and screening drives, the positivity rate has been dropping rapidly. And doctors underlined that communities are now seeing low levels of ... Read More..

Frontline workers in the country heaved a sigh of relief after His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, declared that the UAE has overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE on Wednesday registered 156 new Covid-19 cases – an 18-month low since 150 cases were reported on April 1, 2020.  Dr Nabil Debouni, group medical director, VPS Healthcare, underlined that the country overcame the pandemic through concerted and systemic efforts.  “The authorities followed the best practices and ensured that containment processes were strong at the grassroots level,” he pointed out. “There was a collective effort since the first case was reported in the UAE. The Ministry of Health and P ... Read More..