Emirati artist Dana Al Mazrouei was recently commissioned by the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) in London to create a unique art installation for The Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, which officially opened its doors for patients in October 2019. GOSH has an award-winning arts programme ‘GOSH Arts’, which sits within the Trust’s Built Environment Department. GOSH Arts has managed the art commissions for the Zayed Centre for Research working alongside an Art Group with representatives across the Trust and Charity as well as the design team.

Omnia Health Insights spoke to Al Mazrouei about her experience working on the commissioning project as well as the importance of art in the delivery of a healing environment.

What does art mean to you?

As an artist, I strongly believe that art is a unique platform that enables us to express our thoughts and communicate our own emotions and feelings. It can empower, boost self-esteem and create happiness. Art is powerful. My aspiration for all art is for it to be a strong reminder of how positive energy can be a powerful tool in helping us fight the challenges faced in life.

Can you tell me more about The Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children?

The centre promises to bring together pioneering research and world-leading clinical care to drive new tests, treatments and cures for children with rare and complex diseases. This is going to make such a huge difference in the lives of so many children in the UAE, and all around the world.

As an Emirati, it makes me proud that this state-of-the-art centre was made possible thanks to a £60million gift from Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the wife of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Tell us about your experience art residency at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London?

I was lucky to work with GOSH Arts on this commission, which involved spending time as an artist-in-residence at GOSH to lead a number of creative workshops that explored the theme of genetics with children, young people and their families. Every session was a different creative experience because each child had different expressions and emotions that they wanted to convey through colour.

The residency inspired an artwork for the Zayed Centre for Research called “The Same and Different: 100,000 Genomes”; a series of tactile, circular artworks each representing a visualisation of a genome.

What inspired your artwork “The Same and Different: 100,000 Genomes”?

Each artwork uses the same circular shape with an individual pattern and combination of colours symbolising the similarity but the uniqueness of a human genome. The geometrical form “circle” was used for two reasons. Firstly, a circle is the scientific diagram of reading genomes. Secondly, art development theorists say a circle is a shape that is most familiar to children during their scribbling phase and is a deliberate shape they use to resemble a figure or object.

Can you explain the process involved?

The process involved drop-in sessions with patients. It was a very collaborative experience, in which patients expressed their emotion using “circles” so that we could create a pattern using different colours and sizes of the circle to build one large artwork together to generate positive energy. We also created a sphere using colourful yarn hanging on a tree. 

The interaction with the children through a series of workshops helped me understand their positive outlook and how they translate that into art using the simple form of a circle and colour to express their emotions. Helping the children feel empowered and eager to participate was really the main purpose behind creating this art installation.

Why is art important in healthcare?

Art is a relaxing and inspiring activity for many people. It is also a great platform that enables individuals to express their thoughts, communicate their emotions and deal with their feelings. For these children, dealing with serious medical conditions and spending all their time in a hospital can severely impact their mood and how they see the world.

Given that research has shown that art can have a powerful influence on a person’s well-being and outlook, I’m glad that this whole experience has helped them manage their fears or anxiety. I firmly believe that having such an opportunity as a child and being part of art installations and projects empowers them, helps to foster their self-esteem, and positively impacts their happiness level.

With so much confusion surrounding Coronavirus, health professionals from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) provide answers to some of the most pressing questions with regard to COVID-19.

Dr. Abdulla Al Rasasi, Head of Preventive Medicine Section in Public Health Protection Department at the DHA says, “My advice to community members would be to avoid getting into a panic mode. All the relevant authorities including health authorities in the UAE are working together in a streamlined and unified process. We have medical teams at Dubai airports and these teams are present 24/7.”

He added that airport authorities are carrying out strict measures such as non-intrusive thermal screening for all passengers that arrive at Dubai airports and passengers from countries with a high infection rate are screened twice.

Who should get tested for Coronavirus?

Not everyone with a cold or upper respiratory symptom need to get tested, says Al Rasasi. “There is an updated guideline from UAE health authorities. People who require to undergo a screening for COVID-19 are those with upper or lower respiratory symptoms, with or without fever or anyone with a severe acute respiratory infection without an alternative explanatory diagnosis such as a flu and if the person has travelled to a country with widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the last 14 days prior to the symptoms or the person has cared for or come into contact with an individual known or strongly suspected to have COVID-19.”

Where should I go to get tested?

In such a case, testing is necessary. “Reducing the risk of infecting others begins at home. The first or immediate step is to isolate yourself from family members, request them to buy a mask for you and then go to the nearest medical centre. People can go to DHA hospitals or health centres or private hospitals or health centres in Dubai. DHA has regularly issued guidelines and protocols and the system is unified.

“At the health centre, it is important to immediately inform doctors of your travel history and reason for suspecting that you may have the virus. Healthcare professionals will isolate you and conduct a swab test and the person will remain in isolation until the heath facility receives the results. If it is positive, the patient will be further isolated, if it is negative, the person should follow home isolation until 14 days from the date of travel or from the last date of contact with a positive case. This is a precautionary measure and should be followed by the patient.”

Who will decide whether I need to get tested or not?

Al Rasasi reiterated that not everyone with an upper or lower respiratory illness requires to get tested. “If you fall under any of the above-mentioned criteria, it is a community obligation and duty to get tested and follow all steps such as wearing a mask at the health centre. However, if you feel you have a cold or flu and head to a health centre for treatment, your doctor will decide whether you need a COVID-19 test or not. They are experts and will make an assessment based on your individual case.”

General guidelines and hygiene tips to follow

Al Rasasi said that people should avoid greeting anyone who is sick and refrain from hand touching or hugs. “This will prevent picking up the virus from the other person, even if it is a common cold. It is better to follow these basic precautions, particularly at this point in time but all throughout the year, especially in the winter months.”

He said those with flu symptoms need to follow precautions to avoid spreading the germs.

Dr. Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion and Education Section in the DHA’s Public Health Protection Department said, “People with flu should always follow certain precautions to avoid the spread of the disease. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, correct disposal of tissues; hand-hygiene is particularly important. If you are sick, stay indoors, stay at home and get the rest you need. If you fall under the category that requires COVID-19 testing, take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection and go to the nearest healthcare centre.”

Al Awadhi said that facemasks are recommended for people who are sick with flu to prevent infecting others, but it is not a precaution to protect yourself against the flu or COVID-19.

Al Awadhi said that everyone must maintain hand-hygiene, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and avoid close contact with anyone showing the symptoms. “If you don’t have access to soap and water use a hand sanitizer if you greet someone with respiratory symptoms do not touch their hands or hug the person.”

What is the treatment for COVID-19?

In terms of recovery and treatment, she said, “It is a virus so there is only supportive treatment for the disease that helps control the symptoms such as fever and cold. Recovery of the patient depends on the patient’s immune system and the medical care provided. In most cases, patients recover once the body overcomes the virus.”

She also added that people should only rely on information from official sources and those who have any query can call the following numbers DHA call centre -800 342, Estijaba service at the operation center, Department of Health – 8001717 or Ministry of Health & Prevention – 80011111.

The fears about Coronavirus COVID-19 have hit a fever pitch. Reportedly, there are now more than 93,000 people worldwide who have been infected by Coronavirus and the death toll stands at more than 3,100.

Just to recap, Coronavirus is said to have originated from the animal wet markets in Wuhan, China and has now become a global epidemic with the disease spreading all over the globe. Outside of China, the most affected countries are South Korea, Iran and Italy.

Generally, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in people as well as animals, including camels, cats, and bats. In humans, the virus typically causes the common cold, laryngitis and pneumonia and could also affect the central nervous system.

In these uncertain times, pharmacies, as well as online retailers, are struggling to keep up, as people are stocking up on masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and other medical devices to protect themselves against the virus. These products are listed on our Product Directory. Below we take a look at the most in-demand products that can help win the fight against Coronavirus:

1. Surgical masks

From malls to metro stations, there has been a rise in people wearing surgical masks. In fact, some pharmacies even reported that the product has been out of stock. A surgical mask is a disposable medical device that protects against infectious agents transmitted by droplets. But do face masks really help protect from coronavirus?

Dr. Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion and Education Section in the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Public Health Protection Department was quoted saying, “The general public does not need to wear face masks, medical professionals most certainly need to, and they have special face masks. In fact, if the public wears facemasks, they run the risk of infecting themselves with the flu because every time you touch an infected surface and then you touch the mask, which is on your face, you increase the chances of infecting yourself. Most people do not know how to wear the mask properly and not everybody is aware of it.”

2. Respirators

While surgical masks might not be the most efficient way to protect from coronavirus, a more specialised mask, known as an N95 respirator, is said to be more effective. The respirator, a type of personal protection equipment (PPE), is thicker than a surgical mask and have been designed to achieve a very close facial fit in order to offer efficient filtration of airborne particles. When properly fitted, these can filter more airborne particles than face masks. Reportedly, Amazon users have searched for the word "N95 mask" more than 862,000 times in the last 30 days.

3. Gloves

Since it is not possible to wash hands as frequently as possible, there has been a rise in demand for both sterile and exam gloves for virus protection. The gloves should be changed daily and wearing the correct gloves will ensure that the contaminants will not be absorbed and can reduce the chance of contracting viruses. However, precautions need to be taken and wearers should avoid using their gloved hands to touch their face masks or wallets and phones to avoid the spread of infection. Recently, in order to protect themselves from COVID-19, two passengers boarded an Australian flight entirely wrapped in full-body plastic sheets with masks, gloves and make-shift full-body plastic suits!

4. Hand sanitizer dispensers

The best way to protect against the transmission of the virus is to prioritise hand hygiene and this has led to an increase in the demand for hand sanitizer dispensers. To prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. has recommended five steps when it comes to washing hands – Wet, Lather, Scrub for 20 seconds, Rinse, Dry. When using hand sanitizers, it is important the product covers all areas of the hands including between the fingers and under the nails and should be rubbed until dry. According to reports, in the U.S., the demand for hand sanitizers is up by 1,400 per cent.

5. PCR-Kits

At the moment, pandemic-prone diseases such as coronavirus, are diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular technique. Companies such as Primerdesign and Kogene Biotech have released PCR kits that can help to diagnose the disease. In China, there has been a shortage in coronavirus test kits, which has delayed diagnoses, and people are saying that getting one is like "winning the lottery."

6. Ventilators

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently urged the global community to prepare for caring for patients by stocking up on ventilators. In the UK, where the number of infected has increased to 40, the number of home ventilation kits are being expanded.

7. Hazmat suits

The example seen above of the couple boarding a flight covered fully in plastic illustrates how people feel that complete protection is the need of the hour. In fact, China’s clothing manufacturer Ugly Duck has stopped the production of its winter coats and has started manufacturing thousands of single-use protective hazmat suits, daily.

8. Nebulizers

A nebuliser is a machine, which creates a mist of medicine that is breathed in through a mouthpiece. It is most often used to give high doses of a reliever medicine in an emergency. Since there is no vaccine for Coronavirus available at the moment, the Chinese government has reportedly suggested inhaling a dose of nebulized alpha-interferon twice a day.

9. Oxygen therapy machines

The WHO has stressed that “oxygen therapy is a major treatment intervention for people with severe COVID-19”. This has led to hospitals and clinics all over the world increasing the availability of pulse oximeters and medical oxygen systems.

10. Vitamin C

Could Vitamin C actually cure Coronavirus? Researchers in China are administering high amounts of vitamin C on patients carrying the Coronavirus in an attempt to discover whether it can stop the virus. The results haven’t been published yet. However, many have already started selling the supplement as a must-have as part of their Coronavirus kits.

What’s in a name?

The name coronavirus is derived from the Latin word for crown. This is because the virus is sphere-shaped and covered in spikes, which resembles a crown.

Facemasks are recommended for people who are sick with flu to prevent infecting others, but it is not a precaution to protect yourself against COVID-19, says a top health official.

Dr. Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion and Education Section in the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Public Health Protection Department says, “The general public does not need to wear face masks, medical professionals most certainly need to, and they have special face masks. In fact, if the public wears facemasks, they run the risk of infecting themselves with the flu because every time you touch an infected surface and then you touch the mask, which is on your face, you increase the chances of infecting yourself. Most people do not know how to wear the mask properly and not everybody is aware of it.”

Instead of wearing a facemask, Al Awadhi says that it is better to maintain hand-hygiene, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and avoid close contact with anyone showing the symptoms. “If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer. If you greet someone with respiratory symptoms do not touch their hands or hug the person.”

She says in general, maintaining hand hygiene, particularly handwashing, avoiding travel to places with a high rate of the infection and taking certain precautions, which are the same to avoid the flu, are important steps.

Al Awadhi says, “People at a higher risk of contracting the disease, are people who have been in contact with a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19 or those who have travelled to certain countries where there has been a significant outbreak. People who have been in contact with a confirmed case or those who have flu-like symptoms after travelling to such countries in the last 14 days much be seen by a healthcare provider to rule out COVID-19. Additionally, UAE airports are following all the necessary screening protocols. All healthcare providers in the UAE are well aware of the processes to follow and are receiving regular updates from the relevant health authorities. The system is streamlined and unified.”

What are the symptoms?

In terms of the similarity with common flu and coronavirus, Al Awadhi says that the symptoms are flu-like and both cause fever, sore throat, cough, body aches and difficulty in breathing. “People at risk of developing severe symptoms are those with chronic medical conditions or elderly. Both flu and COVID-19 can spread from person to person through droplets from an infected person by coughing or sneezing or by direct contact.”

She adds that the incubation period for COVID-19 is two to 14 days.

She says that in general, people with flu should always follow certain precautions to avoid the spread of the disease. “Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, correct disposal of tissues; hand-hygiene is particularly important. I also find that people who are sick often go to work despite being sick with flu; they should stay at home and go back to work after they have recovered. Of course, if they are people with risk factors that I mentioned, they must definitely get themselves screened immediately.”

In terms of recovery and treatment, she says, “It is a virus so there is only supportive treatment for the disease that helps control the symptoms such as fever and cold. Recovery of the patient depends on the patient’s immune system and the medical care provided. In most cases, patients recover once the body overcomes the virus.”

With 150 global speakers, 7 CME-accredited conferences covering all major otolaryngology disciplines, two educational forums and more than 30 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge solutions, the 17^th annual meeting of Middle East Otolaryngology Exhibition and Congress (ME-OTO) will be held from 18-20 June at Conrad Dubai Hotel in Dubai, UAE, under the theme, ‘Tomorrow’s Otolaryngology Today’.

Organised by Informa Markets in collaboration with the Middle East Academy of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, ME-OTO is the perfect opportunity for all otolaryngology healthcare professionals to stay abreast of the speciality’s latest trends and advancements. This theme is, therefore, particularly timely as the discipline continues to evolve with the emergence of new technologies, treatment options and advanced scientific knowledge.

As the largest and longest-running educational meeting for Otolaryngologists and allied healthcare providers in the Middle East, the 2020 edition of the event will see the participation of more than 700 Otolaryngologists, Physicians, allied healthcare professionals, professional societies and solution providers. It will also feature more international speakers from the U.S., Europe, Asia and the GCC region.

The agenda

According to Conference and Scientific Committee Chair, Dr. Talal Al-Khatib, who is an Associate Professor at King Abdulaziz University and Chairman of Saudi Board of Otolaryngology, “The conferences at ME-OTO will encompass all the sub-specialities of otolaryngology, including the addition of three new tracks, laryngology, paediatric otolaryngology and head & neck surgery.”

The 17^th edition of the conference, he added, “also has tracks for otology & neurotology, cochlear implants, facial plastic surgery, and audiology & speech pathology. In addition, the conference will also offer an opportunity to the young Otolaryngologists to present their research within a dedicated track.”

The Audiology and Speech track in the upcoming ME-OTO conference will be a very rich programme “focusing on the challenges faced in clinical practice and how to overcome them through high-quality research and clinical expertise,” stated Alfarghal Mohamad, MD, AuD, Consultant Audiovestibular Medicine, King Abdul Aziz Medical City, Jeddah and Chair of the Audio and Speech Pathology Conference at ME-OTO.

“The audiology programme includes vestibular sessions, paediatric audiology sessions, and tinnitus sessions, while the speech programme includes a CI rehabilitation session, language disorders session and swallowing & voice sessions,” he said.

Lectures, panel discussions and hands-on workshops with distinguished speakers will be a key highlight of the Audiology and Speech Pathology track, he added.

Growth opportunities

Since ME-OTO is widely recognised as the leading assembly of ORL-HNS professionals in the Middle East, it also serves as the ideal platform for companies to showcase their latest products and services to an engaged audience.

With more than 700 targeted attendees at the show, including specialists or key players from healthcare facilities, exhibitors can not only meet new customers or discuss products and services with end-users but also strengthen relationships with existing clients and partners to further business opportunities.

With a variety of audience engagement and partnership opportunities available at the show, exhibitors can also benefit from the product and market testing to gain general and healthcare industry opinion about their offerings.

Visit www.me-oto.com to learn more.