Dubai: More than Dh1 million has been spent on the federal ‘Save A Heart’ campaign organised by the Musa’adah (Assistance) committee of the Dubai Health Authority to mark the Year of Giving.
Salem Bin Lahej, director of Humanitarian and Assistance Department of the authority (DHA), said this at the ‘Leaders At Your Service’ event which is an initiative to allow members of the public to express their feedback, suggestions and complaints about senior DHA leaders.
Elaborating on Save A Heart, Bin Lahej said: “This campaign aims to help victims of angina pectoris for a treatment period of six months, including cardiac rehabilitation, radiology etc, at costs ranging from Dh10,000 to Dh30,000 in each case.”
Nearly 130 patients have benefited from the initiative so far this year, with a treatment cost of over Dh1 million.
Any underprivileged patient can qualify for the Save A Heart assistance if he comes through the emergency, requires surgery and is deemed by the team of doctors to be eligible.
“The doctors fill up a detailed form and notify the social workers who notify the Musa’adah committee. We plan to assist several other needy heart patients,” said Bin Lahej.
In the Year of Giving, the DHA plans to assist several underprivileged sick patients under its humanitarian initiatives. Bin Lahej said his department received several queries via phone calls during the live one-hour event. He discussed various volunteering and donation opportunities to help patients in DHA hospitals with financial difficulties.
In 2015, the Musa’adah committee worked with various charities and organisations in the UAE to raise Dh67 million to help 1,640 patients of 43 nationalities. In 2016, it raised Dh108 million and now that the programme has been selected as one of the initiatives for the Year of Giving 2017, it is expected to benefit 3,000 patients and raise Dh250 million in aid and carry out 49 medicine donation programmes.
“To make a person who is suffering from ill health smile is true happiness, so we don’t consider our job as work. We look at it as an opportunity to serve others, it’s a privilege and I am lucky to be in this position. We are working hard to reach our financial objective for this year and am confident we will,” said Bin Lahej.
Those interested to volunteer and/or donate may contact the department at 0097142197474.