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UAE marks World Health Day with focus on mothers and newborns

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The UAE is observing World Health Day on Monday, April 7, aligning with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) year-long campaign titled “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” This global initiative aims to intensify efforts to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths and to prioritise the long-term health and well-being of women and infants.

Global Context

According to WHO estimates, approximately 300,000 women worldwide die annually due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. Additionally, over two million infants die within their first month of life, and around two million more are stillborn each year. These figures underscore the urgent need for enhanced maternal and newborn healthcare services globally.

UAE’s Commitment to Maternal and Newborn Health

The UAE has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving maternal and newborn health through various national initiatives:

  • National Policy for the Promotion of Women’s Health (2024): This policy outlines comprehensive healthcare requirements for women at all life stages, emphasizing care during the reproductive years. 
  • Advanced Maternal Healthcare Services: The UAE offers a robust maternal healthcare system that includes premarital medical screenings, regular prenatal care, childbirth services, and breastfeeding education. These services aim to ensure the health and development of both mothers and their babies. 
  • Early Detection Programmes: National programmes for the early detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and osteoporosis are in place, contributing to the overall well-being of women. 
  • Comprehensive Child Healthcare: The UAE provides high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services to children from birth through adolescence. This includes specialized hospitals, pediatric clinics, preventive care programmes, early disease screening, routine immunisations, mental health services, and therapeutic nutrition programs. 

Notable Initiatives

A standout programme is the newborn screening initiative run by Emirates Health Services (EHS). Targeting infants from birth to 28 days old, the programme includes early screening for genetic disorders, critical congenital heart defects, and hearing impairments. Implemented across all public and specialized hospitals under the EHS umbrella that offer maternity services, this initiative ensures timely treatment and follow-up, aiming to prevent physical and cognitive disabilities and reduce mortality rates. 

Additionally, EHS provides comprehensive screening for genetic and congenital diseases in newborns and offers early screening services for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at primary healthcare centers for children aged 16 to 30 months. These efforts reflect the UAE’s dedication to early intervention and comprehensive care for its youngest citizens. 

Conclusion

As the UAE joins the global community in observing World Health Day 2025, its ongoing initiatives and policies underscore a strong commitment to enhancing maternal and newborn health. These efforts not only align with the WHO’s campaign objectives but also contribute significantly to the nation’s goal of providing high-quality healthcare services, ensuring healthier beginnings and hopeful futures for all.

(Source: WHO, Wam)

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Health

Beyond the stethoscope: Ayurvedic and wellness pioneer Siddhayu Baidyanath celebrates doctors’ wellbeing and creativity at unique Dubai event

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In a profession where compassion and care often come at the cost of personal well-being, Siddhayu Baidyanath, India’s 108-year-old Ayurvedic and herbal wellness pioneer, turned the spotlight on the healers themselves.

Through an inspiring evening titled “Self-Love – The Siddhayu Way,” the brand celebrated doctors not just as caregivers but as creative individuals, musicians, dancers, poets, and artists, highlighting how self-expression can be a form of healing too.

The event, held in Dubai, brought together leading medical professionals and wellness advocates to explore the deeper connection between self-care, emotional well-being, and Ayurveda’s holistic philosophy.

Honouring the healers

The evening was graced by Dr Sanjay Paithankar, Managing Director and owner of Right Health Group, as the guest of honour, alongside Pranav Sharma, Managing Director of Siddhayu Baidyanath.

“Doctors often devote every moment to caring for others, leaving little time for themselves,” said Dr Paithankar. “An initiative like this beautifully reminds us that nurturing our own happiness and passions is an equally important part of healing.”

A celebration of creativity and compassion

Under the uplifting theme Self-Love – The Siddhayu Way, doctors took centre stage, expressing their hidden talents through music, dance, poetry, and art. The performances served as a reminder that self-care isn’t limited to rest and recovery; it’s also about joy, expression, and rediscovering oneself.

A standout moment of the night was a captivating performance of Love You Zindagi by Tarangini, a Dubai-based dance group led by Paromita Bhatia, whose fusion of classical and contemporary styles drew rousing applause.

“Doctors dedicate their lives to healing others. This event is our way of reminding them to pause, celebrate themselves, and embrace self-love, the Siddhayu way,” said Niraj Bhatia, Global Commercial Head, Siddhayu Baidyanath.

A new chapter in wellness innovation

Adding to the evening’s significance, Siddhayu Baidyanath unveiled its latest innovation,  VVS 10 capsules, an advanced Ayurvedic formulation designed to enhance vigour, vitality, and stamina. The launch, led by Pooja Shevtekar, Head of Marketing and Niraj Bhatia, Global Commercial Head, included the premiere of a compelling product film.

With its products registered under the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH) and available at leading pharmacies such as Aster, Siddhayu Baidyanath continues to strengthen its presence in the UAE and across 40 countries worldwide.

Wellness begins with self-love

The evening concluded with a message that resonated beyond the stage, a reminder that doctors, too, deserve the compassion they so freely give. Through Self-Love – The Siddhayu Way, Siddhayu Baidyanath reaffirmed its belief that true wellness begins with caring for oneself — body, mind, and spirit.

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From botox to biohacking: How this new clinic in Dubai is redefining ageing

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In a city celebrated for pushing boundaries, the next frontier in Dubai’s wellness scene isn’t just skin deep; it’s cellular. Ankiti Bose, Founder and CEO of Terra Invest, is spearheading a groundbreaking journey with the launch of Shookra Aesthetics, a regenerative clinic that fuses biotechnology, AI, and beauty science to transform how we age.

Nestled in Dubai’s Business Bay, Shookra Aesthetics aims to redefine beauty as a reflection of vitality rather than mere vanity. The clinic’s innovative approach goes beyond traditional cosmetic treatments by focusing on cellular renewal and longevity. Using cutting-edge DNA sequencing, blood biomarker analysis, and advanced AI skin diagnostics, Shookra crafts personalised health and beauty protocols tailored to each client’s unique biology.

“Shookra is where beauty meets biohacking, a space where we harness AI to transform aesthetics into measurable biology, ” explained Bose.

By analysing over 200 data points in a single facial scan, Shookra’s proprietary system links visible skin health to vital biomarkers like inflammation and hormonal balance.

Clients benefit from bespoke treatment plans combining exosome facials, peptide therapy, and IV infusions that address cellular ageing head-on. This AI-driven model continuously tracks progress, adapting treatments to optimise long-term results.

Terra Invest is also building a “house of brands” around human optimisation, with future launches in digital diagnostics, AI-powered supplements, and performance labs, all interconnected through a shared data ecosystem named Superhuman. 

“Just like data transformed finance two decades ago, it is now revolutionising health,” Bose says. “Once you quantify ageing, you can manage it.”

Dubai’s prominence as a global medical tourism hub, combined with its national AI healthcare initiatives, makes it an ideal launchpad for this longevity revolution. Following its successful debut in Business Bay, Shookra plans expansion to Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Singapore, and London.

In a city defined by reinvention, Bose sees human biology as the next great breakthrough. “It’s about restoring dignity to ageing and prolonging vitality,” she says. 

“Imagine living your last two decades as strong as your first five.”

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UAE slashes sick leave, medical fitness processing time by 55% with new digital bundle

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In a major win for employee welfare and government efficiency, the UAE has launched an enhanced version of the Ajr wa Aafya’ bundle, dramatically simplifying medical-related processes for government employees and new job candidates.

The initiative, which translates to “Reward and Wellbeing”, is a core component of the UAE’s ambitious Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme. It aims to eliminate redundant steps and enhance the quality of life for federal workers by leveraging digital integration and artificial intelligence.

Goodbye Bureaucracy, Hello Efficiency

The revamped ‘Ajr wa Aafya’ Bundle streamlines six key services related to sick leave, medical reports, and pre-employment fitness screening. The improvements are delivering tangible time savings:

  • Sick Leave Approvals: Processing time for sick leave requests requiring a medical committee review has been reduced by a massive 55%.
  • New Employee Medical Fitness: The time taken for medical fitness examinations for new hires is 41% faster.
  • Procedure Streamlining: The overall number of procedures has been reduced from 34 to just 21, with unnecessary requirements eliminated.

This transformation is achieved through linking government systems, specifically the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), and Emirates Health Services (EHS), to create a single, seamless digital workflow.

The Dual Focus: Reward and Wellbeing

The updated ‘Ajr wa Aafya’ package replaces complex paperwork, ensuring that employees can focus on their health and return to work without administrative delays.

Key Services in the Bundle:

  • Attestation of sick leaves and medical reports.
  • Processing of sick leave requests (5 days or less, and more than 5 days).
  • Patient companion’s leave requests (inside and outside the UAE).
  • Pre-Employment Medical Fitness Screening for new federal candidates.

This move further cements the UAE’s position as a global benchmark for government excellence, efficiency, and a commitment to employee well-being.

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