Health: Engagement at the Local and Global Levels

This quarter offered our Health Program great opportunities to learn about global trends in dementia care and local efforts in public health.

A representative from the Foundation's Health Program participated as an observer to the Council on Aging at the World Economic Forum’s annual Summit on the Global Agenda in Abu Dhabi. The Council on Aging exploration of strategies that mitigate the adverse consequences resulting from the increase in non-communicable diseases such as Alzheimer’s was particularly relevant to the Foundation’s work. Attending the Summit on Global Agenda served as a platform for the Foundation to establish networks with experts in the area of ageing, and to identify the latest trends and risks related to ageing.

The Foundation also participated in the Health Authority Abu Dhabi’s Public Health Ambassador training program. This program trained participants to become health advocates through adopting healthy practices and leveraging networks of their peers to influence and motivate them into making healthy behavior changes. The training was based on the programs that the Health Authority has developed for the public including health promotion, education, screening, early detection of certain diseases, and vaccinations. The program provided the Foundation with an opportunity to learn about the Health Authority’s work and to explore avenues for potential collaboration.