Qatari Doctor Wins Sabah Al-Ahmad Award for Elderly Healthcare and Health Promotion Research

Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad

A Qatari doctor won His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion.

The announcement that National Lead for Healthy Ageing for the Qatar Ministry of Public Health (National Health Strategy 2018 2022) and Medical Director of Rumailah Hospital and the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad, was unanimously awarded "His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and Health Promotion" was made during the participation of the State of Qatar in the 150th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was held from 24 to 29 Jan. 2022.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Hannadi Al Hamad said that winning the His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and Health Promotion was the culmination of the efforts exerted by the health sector in the State of Qatar to care for elderly health and health promotion, adding that the prize is one of the most prestigious World Health Organization (WHO) awards in the world.

She added that the health sector is keen to provide excellent care for the elderly, and that many key achievements have been made in this field, including the launch of clinics specialized in memory and geriatrics in three health centers, as well as the launch of geriatric consultancy services in emergency departments, in addition to the opening of a geriatric clinic at Al Wakra Hospital.

She added that several new services were also opened during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the day care unit for the elderly, the acute care unit, the monitoring unit, virtual clinics, virtual services dedicated to physical therapy, and national lines to help the elderly and their caregivers, as well as medicine delivery service for the elderly.

Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad explained that several training programs targeting non-geriatricians and caregivers of the elderly have been developed, as well as a training program on dementia in partnership between the Hamad International Training Centre and Alzheimer's Disease International London, UK, for program accreditation.

She added that home rehabilitation services were also provided, mobile centers were opened in various places to provide home care services, mobile dental care services for the elderly, and nursing services for wound care, in addition to the launch of a website for healthy aging, which contains the information, in addition to the launch of a constantly-updated website for healthy aging, which contains information on common medical problems among the elderly and guidelines that contribute to raising awareness of healthy lifestyles.

She indicated that "RAHA" national helpline service has been launched, with a multi-disciplinary team of experts to provide support and advice to Alzheimer's patients and their family members to help them cope with the challenges caused by dementia and enable them to access the services designated for them,In addition to spreading awareness among them about dementia and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment

It is noteworthy that His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion" is biannually awarded to the winners who have made an outstanding contribution to research in the areas of healthcare for the elderly and in health promotion at the World Health Organization level.

The Selection Panel meets to decide on the recommendation to be made to the Executive Board, which designates the recipient (or recipients) of the prize in a ceremony held on the sidelines of the WHO meetings in Geneva in May. (QNA)