Free medical screening in Dubai for 5,000 low-income workers

Aster will provide complimentary check-ups and first aid training

All participants will undergo tests to assess blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and body mass index. Photo: Aster

A medical screening drive in Dubai for more than 5,000 low-income workers will begin in a vast industrial zone on Sunday.

Scores of doctors, cardiologists and specialists in orthopaedics will offer free consultations to people who often toil outdoors in the heat.

Workers will also receive advice on preventing heatstroke and basic first aid, such as what to do if someone goes into cardiac arrest.

The screenings will take place at Aster Hospital Muhaisnah and is being held to mark World Health Day, which falls on Thursday.

The Muhaisnah area is also known as Sonapur and is home to several labour camps and factories.

All participants will undergo tests to assess blood sugar levels, cholesterol and body mass index.

The check-ups will continue at Aster Hospital Muhaisnah every day in the evening until the end of the month.

“These are people who work day in and day out to provide their families a better living in their home country without being concerned about their own health,” said Dr Sherbaz Bichu, chief executive of Aster Hospitals and Clinics UAE.

“Through this health check-up camp, we intend to encourage these people to undergo preventive health check-ups so as to avoid any untoward health scare. There is no better occasion than this to promote health awareness around World Health Day, and it being the month of Ramadan – this is our giving to society.”

The hospital is overseen by Aster Heathcare and the group regularly ran these screening drives before the Covid-19 pandemic. As the number of cases falls, they are resuming.