This Thursday, Emirates Arthritis Foundation (EAF) and Anlene, Fonterra’s leading adult milk brand, will be coming together to support the much-awaited opening of Al Biraa Arthritis & Bone Centre. It is a brand new facility in Dubai dedicated to raising awareness of osteoporosis and preserving local residents’ bone health.
”The opening of the clinic is crucial for raising awareness of this debilitating disease and will be used to help treat people living with the illness, as well as offering ways to help prevent the onset of disease.” says Dr Ayman Mofti, Al Biraa Arthritis & Bone Centre’s General Manager, who has more than 20 years of experience in private medical practice in both the USA & Dubai.
The clinic will be the new base of EAF, marking a milestone for the charity. EAF has been established since 2005 and strives to raise awareness of arthritis and other bone diseases such as osteoporosis, through education and events as well as supporting individuals living with these illnesses.
The centre is the first arthritis clinic in the region to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and lupus); bone diseases (osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency); and muscle diseases (fibromyalgia and repetitive stress syndrome).
Amr Farghal, Managing Director for Fonterra Brands Middle East, Africa and CIS says Anlene are delighted to be involved with the new clinic. “Many people do not think of osteoporosis as a serious disease, and often see it as a condition that primarily affects older people – nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Fonterra is passionate in its efforts to highlight the dangers of this disease and since 2006, we have conducted more than 1.8 million bone scans in Asia and the Middle East. In 2009, one in three women scanned in the UAE were at risk of developing osteoporosis, which is a very concerning statistic. Women need to be aware that they can prevent this disease so they can live a healthy life.”
Katrina Thornely, Patient Support Director at EAF says, “We are all very excited to be part of the new Al Biraa Arthritis & Bone Centre. We hope we can continue to make a difference through education, awareness and support of patients in the UAE, particularly with expensive medication, which can cost as much as 70,000 AED per year/per patient.”
To mark the opening of the clinic, visitors will be offered free bone density scanning throughout the day, courtesy of Anlene, enabling women to see if they are at risk of developing the disease. Samples of Anlene milk will also be offer, which is fortified with the vital nutrients that can help prevent the onset of the disease.
Osteoporosis is the gradual weakening of bones, which stems from a lack of minerals that are vital to maintain healthy bone mass, and women are at particular risk. It is often referred to as a ‘silent disease’ as it develops over several years and often goes unnoticed until a fracture or break occurs, which can be extremely painful.
