The College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) held a specialized medical conference entitled, ‘Highlighting Digestive Diseases in the Elderly in the UAE in 2015’, in the Ayla Hotel in Al Ain recently.

This is part of UAEU’s attempt to enhance the depth of knowledge in the local community. As such it was held in partnership with other relevant authorities. The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Ali Almelaih Al Fazari, Gastroenterology Consultant in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences and President of the Conference, with an opening speech in which he thanked the UAE’s wise leadership for its care of the elderly and its commitment to provide this care.

Dr. Al Fazari pointed out that the conference sessions would address different themes including: a discussion on the launch of a specialized fellowship for physicians in the field of diseases affecting the elderly. This would be a joint project between UAEU and Tawam Hospital. There was also to be a discussion regarding the aging gastro-intestinal tract, addressing chronic diseases and their overlap with gastroenterology. Additionally, there was to be a team established known as the Therapeutic Feeding Team to deal with issues surrounding gastroenterology and the development of feeding tubes.

Dr. Salwa Al Suwaidi, Senior Specialist Registrar: Geriatrics, and Director of the Family Gathering Centre of the Dubai Health Authority, said that the importance of this conference stemmed from the fact that UAE society seeks to take care of the elderly. As a result of economic progress and the development of therapeutic services, life expectancy in the UAE has increased in comparison to before the establishment of the union when the average age for both genders was 53. Now, it is 77 for women and 74 for men. This means that the health authorities and specialists need to provide specialized health care, especially in the field of gastroenterology, for it is the most common disease among the elderly.