Free Heart Testing For Women Across All Shopping Malls In The UAE

Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has launched its 10^th regional health awareness campaign, Feel the Beat, offering complimentary cardio-health screening for women in shopping malls in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and with the Emirates Cardiac Society. The two-month-long campaign starting first week of September till end of October aims to spread awareness of cardiovascular disease, prevention and the importance of early detection.

Cardiovascular disease is often perceived to mostly afflict men; however, Feel the Beat aims to help more women become aware of the risks to their heart health. According to a Nielsen study of women in the GCC, the top two health concerns were high-cholesterol levels and being overweight, both of which are risk factors for heart diseases. Despite heart diseases being the leading cause of deaths in the region, the perception of risk is low and warning signs are often ignored.

“Majid Al Futtaim’s annual social impact programme, Feel the Beat, is part of our sustainability efforts and how we encourage the wellbeing of the communities we serve. Over ten years we have tested tens of thousands of women at our shopping malls in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman and raised awareness of one of the most prevalent diseases affecting women in the region. We look forward to empowering more women of all ages to take control of their overall wellbeing and learn more about heart health,” said Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Managing Director for Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Shopping Malls (UAE, Bahrain & Oman).

Dr Younis Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Healthcare Corporation at the Dubai Health Authority, stressed the importance of the campaign and its positive role in raising awareness and educating the public on how to prevent cardiovascular diseases by encouraging the community to adopt a healthier and happier lifestyle, which is in line with the authority’s goals. “The DHA is committed to partnering with various government and private institutions, as well as international and local heart associations, to raise awareness and ensure early detection of heart disease amongst all ages,” he added.

“Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading killer, so we’re working globally to build healthier lives,” said Dr. Ahmed Gabroun Cardiologist at United Medical, Fellow American Heart Association, Member Emirates Cardiac Society. “Through the American Heart Association Go Red For Women movement, we have made a commitment to collaborating with our communities to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives and to take action for women’s cardio-health.”

“Choosing the right lifestyle along with food habits, and getting regular checks done helps maintain good heart health. We are happy to extend our critical care services and support to this initiative by Majid Al Futtaim and American Heart Association that is focusing on improving lifestyles in UAE, especially for women in our communities who are the heart of their families,” said Co-Chairperson at Zulekha Hospital, Mrs. Zanubia Shams.

All participating shopping malls will have allocated areas to host medical professionals from Dubai Health Authority and Zulekha Hospital who will administer complimentary cardio-health screening and conduct screening for women. At each designated location, visitors will be able to check their Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if they are at risk of heart diseases and if they would require a follow-up consultation for further analysis.

Participants are encouraged to visit the following Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls for testing and screening: