Undiagnosed health conditions among workers the target of labour camp check-ups

VPS Healthcare launches free check-ups hoping to tackle two key labour health problems – hypertension and diabetes.

A doctor from Lifecare Hospital checks the health of a worker in Mussaffah after inaugurating the mobile clinics initiative. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // High blood pressure and diabetes are two common health issues for labourers that doctors hope to tackle by offering free check-ups throughout the summer.

Mobile clinics fitted with X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment and electrocardiogram machines are travelling around the country to check the health of hundreds of workers.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, managing director of VPS Healthcare, the group running the project, said many workers who had high blood pressure were unaware of it.

“High blood pressure can be dangerous for workers if left untreated,” he said

“Labourers are a group of people who complain less but deserve more.”

The first clinic opened in Mussaffah, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, with labourers checked for a range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which can be fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Each of the mobile clinics is being staffed with general practitioners, specialists, radiologists, nurses, dieticians and paramedics to ensure that all healthcare requirements can be treated.

“This idea is to improve the lives of labourers working hard in the UAE,” Dr Vayalil said.

“Labourers have busy days and are often unaware if they are diabetic or have hypertension. Screening for basic tests like blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol will let the workers know how healthy they are so we can offer advice and get them to hospital or to see a specialist.”

Clinics are visiting Mussaffah Workers Village, Hameem, Mafraq Al Raha Village and Saadiyat Accommodation Village, collectively home to more than 400,000 workers.

A small team of doctors will screen for various conditions, taking chest X-rays, performing ultrasound and blood tests on workers who may have existing but undiagnosed health problems.

“Some are diabetic and have poor eyesight as a result, so keep getting hand injuries because their coordination is affected,” Dr Vayalil said.

“They don’t know why this is happening until they are screened. There is a cost implication here also – by diagnosing conditions early, we can offer better preventive medicine that should reduce the need for more complex and expensive treatment in future.”

Workers are educated at the time of screening through health information leaflets in several languages.

“Most common problems are related to dental and dietary issues,” said Dr Madhusudana Rao, medical director at Lifecare Hospital, Mussaffah.

“Our doctors will be working on a daily basis, offering education and guidance on where these men can get the most suitable care.

“Checks are taking place between 3pm and 9pm so they are not too disruptive and encourage as many as possible to take advantage of this campaign. We know we can’t treat everyone but we will try to get to as many as possible.”

Last year, more than 4,000 -labourers were offered a free dental check-up in Dubai to assess oral health at the College of Dental Medicine in Dubai Healthcare City.

During the seven-month programme, dentists found more than a third of the men had not had a check-up before, despite 46 per cent admitting to persistent dental pain.

Free health screenings were offered by Dubai Health Authority to mark International Labour Day on Monday.

Sessions took place in Nad Al Hammar primary healthcare centre and included medical and dental check-ups, a smoke analyser test to gauge the carbon monoxide levels of smokers, with doctors offering advice on how to quit smoking.

“This day is an opportunity for us to express our gratefulness to workers for their dedication and commitment,” said Humaid Al Qatami, DHA director general.

“Such initiatives are crucial to demonstrate our appreciation for the work that they undertake and to help create a positive and appreciative work environment.”