DHA official opens Dubai nutrition conference

Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of DHA inaugurated the 5th edition of the annual Dubai International Nutrition Conference (Dinc) on Thursday.

The conference, which is taking place from the 24th to the 26th of Oct, 2019 at the Dubai Intercontinental Hotel, Festival City, is running under the theme ‘Driving Innovation and Excellence in Nutrition’.

Dinc aims to highlight the latest research, best practices in the field of clinical nutrition while also focusing on how nutrition helps in preventing the onset of many obesity, and life style related diseases.

Following the opening ceremony, Al Qutami and his accompanying delegation comprising senior officials from the government and private sector briefly toured the exhibition area, where they were informed about the latest products and services by leading brands in the nutrition sector from the UAE and abroad.

The three-day conference is expected to attract over 1500 visitors and participants and brings together nutritionists, dieticians, nurses, healthcare professionals and academicians in medicine, while also giving the top brands in the healthcare industry a platform to get in touch with the best minds, doctors and key decision makers.

During his keynote address,  Humaid Al Qutami said, “Year after year, the event has witnessed continuous success due to the importance of nutrition, as it is a central issue that affects all aspects of our lives. This year, we will discuss it through a number of topics such as the link between malnutrition and unhealthy patterns on the overall global economic burden due to health problems, including obesity, diabetes and blood pressure, among others. The same issue can also be linked to the positive effect of clinical nutrition and its role in reducing the spread of chronic diseases and treating infectious and non-communicable diseases. These topics that reflect the main topics will be discussed in this conference and that were keenly put by the DHA, along with other topics related to research, studies, protocols, and the latest developments in the field of nutrition, which effects the map of diseases and its rates and possible prevention opportunities.”

He added, “Nutrition and its related habits are our key towards a better quality of life on the national and international level, and it is our bridge to achieve a healthier future, as the World Health Organisation (Who) report says: nutrition is the foundation of health and development. Improving nutrition means strengthening the immunity of people of all ages, reducing their morbidity and improving their overall health. The World Health Organisation also emphasizes in its studies and researches that healthy children learn better than others, and that healthy people increase their strength, productivity, and ability to optimally utilize their energy. What WHO and other international organisations and associations say about food safety, nutrition and healthy patterns is what Dubai does- the emirate that witnesses now one of the most important initiatives – Dubai Fitness Challenge. The challenge was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to promote quality of life, spread the philosophy and concepts of health, fitness and safety among the community members. These goals are exactly what DHA is keen to achieve and work relentlessly to spread through its initiatives and development programs to be in line with Dubai’s high standards of well-being and the integrated healthcare system that aims to reach a healthier and happier society.”

His Excellency went on saying: “We, at DHA, believe in the integrity of the public health elements and that clinical nutrition is the cornerstone for prevention and treatment. Therefore, DHA pays great attention to this biomedical specialty, and is constantly working to develop and modernize its technologies and smart solutions. It also ensures to have the best competencies in all of its departments, hospitals, and healthcare centers. Meanwhile, DHA works on building partnerships and relationships with all stakeholders to establish the concepts of proper nutrition and make it an important part of everyone’s daily life in order to support health sustainability and to promote our goals of reaching a healthier and happier society.”