Zulekha Hospital launches ‘No More Excuses’, a community initiative to save lives

A new healthcare campaign designed to help reduce the incidences of heart attacks and strokes is urging UAE residents to stop making excuses and start taking responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

The No More Excuses initiative launched today by Zulekha Hospital and campaign partners Dubai Ambulance and Dubai Sports Council is supported by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Community Sports Initiative,  Bharath Thakur Artistic Yoga, VLCC, Air Arabia, Zee TV, and the Football Centre, alongside fitness partners and has been created to make the transition from procrastination to action.

Zanubia Shams, Co-Chairperson of Zulekha Hospitals, said: “Some of the biggest factors that contribute to early onset heart attacks and strokes are stress and every day anxieties, coupled with lack of exercise and relaxing downtime, unhealthy eating patterns and for some, smoking.  We know the pressures that everyone faces in work and at home and we understand that often our own personal health and wellbeing takes a back seat.  

“Our doctors have all seen patients in difficult living situations and have witnessed too many tragic stories that could have been prevented.  We have devised this campaign to help change mindsets and behaviours, and as a result, reduce the incidences of heart-related illnesses.”

Currently, one in three people in the UAE are overweight and diabetes is increasing.  A new Global Burden of Disease, Infections and Risks (GBD) study commissioned by medical journal The Lancet reveals that four of the top five causes of death in the UAE in 2015 were heart-related.

While motor vehicle road injuries took the second spot, ischemic heart disease was the number one (21.6% of total deaths), haemorrhagic stroke was third, followed by diabetes and ischemic stroke. 

In the first phase of the campaign, Zulekha Hospital is encouraging everyone to take advantage of a free appointment with one of their specialist cardiologists in Dubai or Sharjah, who will oversee free ECG, blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol checks. 

Depending on the person’s weight and health history, they may also be offered additional healthcare options.

In early 2017, the campaign will kick start a series of sporting activities, available to all UAE residents, so they can become responsible for their wellbeing and get active in football, volleyball and basketball games.  A community-wide Walkathon is also being arranged to open up accessible health activities to as many people as possible.

Taher Shams, Managing Director of Zulekha Hospitals added: “The aim of ‘No More Excuses’ is to make fitness a part of everyone’s lifestyle.  Eating more and moving less will result in a weak heart and we want to help change that across the Emirates. 

“This will be a year-long initiative and a movement driven by our community.  We plan to shed light on some of the excuses people typically hold on to in order to avoid changing unhealthy habits and we want to show the UAE that small, daily tweaks to their lifestyle can make a huge difference.  We urge every organisation and institution to join us and send out this united message.”

UAE residents are encouraged to make their free consultation appointment with the team of highly respected specialist cardiologists today by visiting promise.zulekhahospitals.com or calling 600 524 442.