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Her Excellency, Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chairwoman of the Marriage Fund Institution, opened the Fourth International Congress of the World Heart Failure Society, organized by the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) on Thursday, 11^th December 2014. The congress was held in the Danat Hotel in Al Ain under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak (the Mother of the UAE), Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Dr. Al Shamsi stressed that Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak is a keen supporter of a variety of academic initiatives in the health sector, both in the UAE and further afield. This is especially important as heart disease is a major health issue worldwide and specifically in the UAE, where a large number of citizens suffer from chronic heart disease and other related cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Dr. Al Shamsi further explained that the UAE believes in the importance of such conferences, which host the best-known, international experts in cardiovascular disease. This helps in developing a professional standard of health care and plays a role in helping to find health solutions for patients with serious heart problems. She highlighted the desire articulated by Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for the conference to come up with solutions, recommendations and proposals to combat cardiovascular disease in all its forms.

Her Excellency, Dr. Faeqa Hilal Bou Haza, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Secretary-General) of the university’s Financial and Administrative Affairs Department, added that UAEU is committed to making a positive contribution in this field through leadership and the pursuit of excellence in higher education and scientific research. This is reflected by hosting such internationally important conferences where researchers can suggest solutions, in partnership with other stakeholders, in order to promote knowledge and enrich the UAE’s medical and health sectors.

Professor Elsadig Kazzam, President of the World Heart Failure Society and President of the Congress, said that this congress was attended by more than 400 scientists and specialist in various cardiology disciplines. The participants came from several different countries and included 20 keynote speakers. They collectively presented a summary of diverse research during 45 different sessions. These sessions dealt with the different functions of the heart, the most important developments in this field and the latest technology.