A group of social organizations run by Indian medical professionals here has launched a free health-screening program for the early detection of diabetes and cardiac disorders among Indian expatriates. The Saudi government has made health insurance mandatory for all expatriates. However, because of the lack of awareness, a large number of expatriates do not utilize the medical facility, due to which some health disorders, such as diabetes and cardiac problems are not diagnosed at an early stage. Dr. S. Abdulaziz Kunju, President, Trivandrum Expatriates Association (TEXA), said the health-screening program is an effort to create health awareness among Indian workers. He, however, said the program planned to be held every month is open to expatriates of other nationalities. At the second medical camp organized at Shifa Al-Jazeera Polyclinic on Friday, around 150 people underwent medical checkups that included fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood pressure, body weight and height. They also filled out a heart disease screening questionnaire before consulting a team of doctors. In a similar activity organized in Riyadh last month, almost the same number of people attended the medical camp. Based on the clinical report and remarks by the consulting panel of doctors, those patients determined to have cardiac risk factors and symptoms were given electrocardiograms (ECG) and further checkups. “Many new cases of diabetes and ischemic heart diseases were detected,” said Dr. Kunju, adding that the free medical screening is a five-month program initiated for Indian nationals. At the end of the screening program, data on the health of Indians working in and around Riyadh will be available, he said. Doctors volunteering their services are: K.J. Sebastin, Thomas, Reji Kurian, Mohammed Rafeek, Upendran and Abdul Azeez.
