WAM Dubai, 5th May 2012 (WAM) - The Ministry of Health has launched in cooperation with Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) a new multidisciplinary educational training program called "Practical Diabetes Program" for diabetes care physicians and educators as part of the national diabetes higher committee to fight diabetes.

Dr. Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Policies at the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Diabetes Higher National Committee, stated that the new program is an extension to the previous training programs which were organized by the ministry to raise the efficiency of the diabetes practitioners and update their knowledge and skills. The training program has been put together by a group of leading endocrinologists from the Ministry of Health, HAAD, Khalifa Medical City and DHA.

Dr. Fiki elaborated that the previous training programs used to emphasize and highlight the latest researches and studies which were done by international research and training centers in the field of diabetes. The new program aims to provide primary healthcare professionals with a basic understanding of diabetes in relation to diagnosis, prevention and management of diabetes and diabetes associated complications.

He said: "The multidisciplinary education program consists of five individual CME accredited courses tailored to the educational needs of general practitioners, diabetes nurses and dieticians, endocrinologists and internists. Healthcare professionals working in hospital setting and healthcare professionals working with diabetes in special circumstances will find these courses useful. The first phase of the program will begin on 11th May in Dubai whereas an outline of the entire program can be found on www.practicaldiabetes.ae". All the training programs are free of charge while doctors, nurses and dieticians can register in the program on the same website.

To advance nurses, dieticians and pharmacists' knowledge and skills in diabetes a two days program is prepared as part of the practical diabetes program. During the two day program which will be held in Abu Dhabi between 8-9 June and in Dubai between 15-16 June, the delegates get a clear understanding of symptoms and treatment options related to diabetes and diabetes associated complications. Furthermore, strategies on nutrition and lifestyle intervention are put forward to improve patient self-management and clinical outcomes.

Diabetes in Special Cases: Healthcare professionals are frequently required to manage situations where special circumstances require that healthcare professionals assess the person with diabetes differently.

As part of the practical diabetes program a one day program highlighting diabetes in special situations is offered to physicians working in primary healthcare and at hospital wards. The program will be held in Abu Dhabi on 9th January 2013 and in Dubai 16th January 2013.

Dr. Fikri added that the training program has been approved by the Ministry of Health, HAAD and Dubai and aims for raising the knowledge and skills of doctors, nursing and nutrition staff as well as the services standards which are provided for diabetes patients. It is also a strategic goal of the national higher diabetes program and the ministry continues its efforts to improve the services to all diabetes patients in its health centers.

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