Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Health Authority, H.E. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director-General of Dubai Health Authority and Vice Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, inaugurated the 8th Emirates Critical Care Conference, which is held in conjunction with the 4th Asia Africa conference of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine (WFSICCM), 8th International Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society, the 1st Neuro-Critical Care Middle East North Africa Conference, and 1st Global Sepsis Alliance-Gulf, at the Events Center, Dubai Festival City.

 

During the Opening Ceremony of the 3-days conference, organized by Emirates Intensive Care Society and supported by Hamdan Medical Award and Dubai Health Authority, 13th of September was announced as the "World Sepsis Day".

 

During his speech, Prof. Konrad Reinhart president of the Global Sepsis Alliance said, "This announcement comes under the supervision of Global Sepsis Alliance, World Health Organization and 9 major Sepsis and Intensive Care societies.

 

"Our aim is to raise the awareness of the seriousness of Sepsis in order to reduce the number of its victims. Annually, from 20 million to 30 million persons die from the Septic infections all over the world", he added.

 

During the Opening Ceremony, H.E. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid said, "Within its strategic plan, Dubai Health Authority has attached great attention to the provision of integrated health care of high quality to its patients and customers in general, which also includes the development of standards to make Dubai a center attracting medical tourism".

 

"Dubai Health Authority has established several intensive care units in various hospitals, provided with trained and qualified medical cadres and with the latest medical devices and equipment, which contributed to the reduction of mortality rate in these units from 60% to 35%, while the universally accepted percentage ranges between 45 to 50%", he added.

 

It is worthy to mention that the conference discusses 100 scientific papers through 25 sessions and 125 lectures, with participation of 60 keynote speakers.