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Science suggests omicron has displaced delta COVID-19 variant: South African expert

There are indications that the omicron COVID-19 variant has rapidly displaced the delta variant, according to South African disease expert Michelle Groome.

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Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s launches new clinic to transform care for children with feeding disorders

– The clinic develops a personalized treatment plan that includes a consultant in pediatric
gastroenterology and nutrition, pediatric clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, speech and
language pathology and nutritional counseling
– Holistic approach focuses on child’s medical, nutritional, feeding ability and psychological
wellbeing — meaning mealtime battles may become a thing of the past
– It caters to all feeding issues from extreme pickiness to sensory issues or tube feeding
dependence for children with wider health or medical condition

Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, part of the M42
group, has launched a comprehensive feeding clinic designed to address a variety of feeding challenges
in children, including extreme pickiness. This means mealtime battles may soon become a thing of the
past – reducing stress for the whole family.
Children across the globe go through a picky eating phase between the ages of two and five, but this can
begin even earlier. From unusual behaviors, picky eating and swallowing safely to restricted diets, it may
be a struggle for both parents and the child. Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s new
comprehensive feeding clinic is more than just teaching children to eat appropriately; its primary
purpose is to help children and their families develop effective feeding behaviors and patterns.
Working closely with the families, specialists at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children will
determine the difficulties in feeding and develop personalized, strategic, and specific therapies to
support in this journey. The comprehensive feeding clinic’s team of experts includes pediatric
gastroenterologists, speech and language pathologists, psychologists and dietitians who collaborate to
create personalized plans to help children overcome mealtime struggles. Together, they will offer
comprehensive evaluations and support for issues such as extreme pickiness, difficulty chewing or
swallowing, sensory issues, tube-feeding dependence, and pain or discomfort while eating.
Taking a holistic approach centered on the child’s medica and nutritional needs, feeding abilities, and
psychological well-being, the clinic aims to streamline the treatment journey and enhance outcomes for
young patients and their families. This includes catering to the needs of all children, including those with
chromosomal abnormalities, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and
various gastrointestinal problems, including reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis.
Dr. Ala Shaikh Khalil, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &
Children said, “We’ve noticed that many of our patients struggle with feeding problems. We understand
that mealtimes can be a source of frustration and stress when children are very picky or have feeding
and swallowing difficulties. This is why our team created the comprehensive feeding clinic. Issues range from difficulty handling certain textures to more severe problems like food entering the lungs instead of the GI tract, which often requires tube feeding.”
“Feeding problems in young children are complex and require an interdisciplinary approach. Our
patient-centered approach works closely with families throughout the treatment process to help
achieve the best outcomes. Having all the support available at Danat Al Emarat ensures that families get
a full continuum of care. This means all the support they need is all available in one place, with a unified
set of recommendations, after telling their story just once,” Dr. Ala added.
Crucial psychological support
Dr. Summia Zaher, Chief Executive Officer and Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology Danat Al Emarat
Hospital for Women & Children said, “In our commitment to enriching the lives of the families in our
care, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &  Children is delighted to launch our new specialized clinic
dedicated to addressing childhood feeding challenges. We understand the profound importance of
nurturing not only our children’s physical health but also their emotional and psychological well-being.
Our goal is to make feeding both safe and pleasurable for the child and their family.”
Dr. Ala emphasized the importance of a personalized treatment plan. She said, “We assess each child to
ensure there are no undiagnosed medical issues, optimize their nutrition, ensure safe and efficient
feeding practices and provide crucial psychological support to both the child and their family.”

 

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M42 Bahrain and Mumtalakat break ground on Amana Healthcare – Bahrain’s first specialized long-term care and rehabilitation facility

– Groundbreaking ceremony marks Amana Healthcare’s entry into Bahrain and commitment to
delivering specialized care for the Kingdom’s people

– New facility will be the Kingdom’s first specialized long-term care provider offering post-acute
rehabilitation services
Operations scheduled to commence in 2025, Recruitment Day on 12 October in Manama will
employ the Kingdom’s most skilled local professional

Amana Healthcare, part of the M42 group, in
partnership with Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (“Mumtalakat”), celebrated a groundbreaking
ceremony on 18 September 2024 to mark the start of construction on the Amana Healthcare facility in
Al Jasra, Bahrain. This milestone signifies Amana Healthcare’s entry into Bahrain and its commitment to
delivering world-class health solutions and specialized care for the health and wellbeing of people in the
Kingdom.
Members of Amana Healthcare – Bahrain’s Board of Directors attended the ceremony, including Dr.
Mohamed AlSaati, Acting CEO of M42 Bahrain and CEO of Amana Healthcare Bahrain and Khalid Hussain
Taqi, Managing Director – Local Impact Investments at Mumtalakat.
Commenting on the occasion Dr. AlSaati said, “This highly specialized new facility will address a critical
need in Bahrain, particularly long-term complex medical needs and post-acute rehabilitation. We are
proud to be partnering with Mumtalakat to address crucial gaps in the healthcare landscape, support
the vision of the country and create jobs for Bahrainis. The groundbreaking will mark the first step in this
journey, with momentum maintained through a Recruitment Day on 12 October 2024 in Manama to
engage and recruit the Kingdom’s most skilled local professionals. We’re looking forward to seeing
Amana Healthcare take shape in Bahrain ready to positively impact people in the Kingdom.”
Mr. Taqi added: “Mumtalakat is committed to investing in key sectors of Bahrain’s economy to benefit
and enrich the lives of its people. The launch of Amana Healthcare will allow us to leverage M42’s
expertise in delivering world-class care, ensuring that technology and innovation are at the forefront of
one of the most vital sectors – healthcare. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of the project,
which will ensure the efficient use of resources and further elevate the accessibility and quality of
healthcare provided to all citizens and residents. Furthermore, this aligns with our mandate to create
sustainable, long-term partnerships that deliver valuable services, while creating highly skilled job
opportunities.”
Scheduled to commence operations in 2025, the new facility will be the first international premium
provider of specialized long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation services in Bahrain – an innovative
approach set to revolutionize healthcare in the region and beyond.

The 15,000-square-meter, 100-bed facility will feature two large gyms, a hydrotherapy pool, two
majlises and gardens. The facility aims to offer world-class, tech-enabled services across its three wings.

 

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UAE Employers Lead in Health Benefits Offering, But Employee Support Falls Short, Cigna Healthcare Study Reveals

 98% of UAE employees recognize the value of health programs, yet only 70%
feel supported, revealing a critical communication gap.
 International health insurance tops UAE’s EVP rankings, outpacing global trends,
but faces underutilization and implementation challenges.

A new Cigna Healthcare study reveals a significant disconnect
between employer intentions and employee perceptions regarding health and well-being
benefits in the UAE. While HR leaders rank international health insurance as the most preferred
employee value proposition (EVP) for boosting productivity and attracting talent, only 7 in 10
employees believe their employers proactively support their health and well-being.
The report, titled Harnessing Health – Measuring the Impact of Employee Health and Well-being
Benefits, is based on a survey of 1000 managers and directors in HR and Benefits functions in
the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK and US.
A compelling 98% of UAE employees agree that a robust health and well-being program
significantly boosts productivity and creates a more positive workplace. Reflecting this
sentiment, the study reveals that UAE companies offer more health benefits than their global
counterparts, underscoring the emphasis HR leaders place on employee well-being. However,
despite these efforts, many benefits remain underutilized, indicating a critical need for improved
access and awareness among employees.
Leah Cotterill, CEO of Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa (outside KSA), said, “Our
survey results clearly demonstrate that health and well-being benefits are powerful drivers of
workplace performance and talent attraction. While it’s promising to see that UAE companies
are offering more health benefits than their global counterparts, there’s still work to be done in
bridging the gap between availability and utilization. To truly maximize the potential of these
benefits, employers need to adopt a more strategic approach. This means not only offering
comprehensive packages, but ensuring they’re well-communicated, easily accessible, and
aligned with local cultural values. This is crucial for fostering a healthier, more satisfied, and
ultimately more productive workforce, giving businesses a competitive edge in today's global
market.”

Key findings in the UAE include:
 Strong Preference for Health Benefits: International health insurance is not only a key
part of the EVP but also the most favored by employees, ranking higher locally
compared to its fifth place globally. This preference is also shared equally with flexible
time off and working arrangements. The UAE presents more companies offering health
benefits than the global average.

 Employer Priorities: Employee health and well-being are top priorities for HR leaders,
on par with succession planning and leadership development (15%). Over half of these
leaders believe that robust health insurance plans promote a positive company culture
and enhance employee loyalty while effectively reducing absenteeism. UAE employee
rankings are amongst the highest in being proactively supported and valued for their
health and wellbeing.
 Gap in Benefit Utilization: Despite the widespread availability of health benefits
—offered by 93% of companies— there remains a significant underutilization issue, with
preventive health tools being the least utilized. This points to a potential gap in how
these benefits are communicated and understood by employees which could be a result
of insufficient awareness, cultural resistance, or limitations in support.
 Impact on Business Outcomes: More than half of HR leaders acknowledge the
positive impact of health benefits on key business metrics, particularly employee loyalty
and fostering a good company culture. While they see health insurance as beneficial in
reducing absenteeism, their confidence wanes when it comes to its effectiveness in
decreasing turnover, suggesting a need for targeted strategies to address specific local
challenges.
 Mental Health Support: There is still a gap in mental health support, as it is the least
offered benefit in the UAE (48%) among all markets surveyed. Additionally, only 7 in 10
employees in the UAE feel that their employers proactively support their health and well-
being.
 Health and Well Being: 98% of employees in UAE agree that robust health and well-
being program leads to better productivity and more positive work environment overall.

 

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