Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls lead global health campaign to help women prevent cardiovascular diseases

DUBAI- In line with an ongoing commitment to sustainability and the communities it operates in, Majid Al Futtaim announces their annual health campaign to raise awareness, combating the common myth that cardiovascular disease only affects men.  Health awareness and education about such measures, testing and healthy lifestyle choices, are key to building a heart disease-free society.  Majid Al Futtaim is once again leading ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign in the Middle East, acting as the local partner in the region for this worldwide movement. In what is the biggest level of involvement to-date, 13 shopping malls across five nations will be offering preventative heart health testing for women region-wide.

“Heart disease and stroke kill more women each year than cancer, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria combined.  At present, a huge percentage of women are aware that heart disease is the biggest culprit that causes deaths of women in the world, but only few believe it to be their biggest threat to life.  ‘Go Red for Women’ is a platform that could finally debunk the tightly-held myths out there that it is a man’s disease and educate women about heart health risks. We, at the UAE Ministry of Health are proud to collaborate with Majid Al Futtaim on this campaign within the United Arab Emirates,” said Dr. Youssif Sarkal, the Assistant Undersecretary General of the Ministry of Health.

“Majid Al Futtaim’s central values focus on the needs and interests of communities in the region, providing the highest international standards for mall operations and sustainability, while offering the best of entertainment and leisure activities through our various mall concepts.  An integral part of that commitment to communities involves ensuring their health and well-being.  We do that by inserting an educational and community engagement component into our strategies and initiatives throughout the year,” stated Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Senior Director, Property Management – Shopping Malls for Majid Al Futtaim – Properties.  “In May, we are bringing the ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign to the region once again to ensure that women have access to preventative testing and professional health advice to prevent cardiovascular diseases.”

Participating malls in the UAE include City Centre, Ajman; City Centre, Deira; City Centre, Fujairah; Mall of the Emirates, City Centre, Mirdif; My City Centre, Nasseriya and City Centre, Sharjah. Also, participating within the region is City Centre, Bahrain; City Centre, Muscat and  City Centre, Qurum in Oman, City Centre, Alexandria and City Centre, Maadi in Egypt, and City Centre, Beirut in Lebanon.  All shopping malls have allocated areas to host medical professionals who will administer complimentary testing and conduct checkups for women, which are the necessary preventative measures against cardiovascular diseases.  At each designated location, women can check their blood pressure, blood sugar, Body Mass Index (BMI) and cholesterol levels to determine if they are prone to heart diseases or if they already have a condition that needs to be treated.

With the support of the American Heart Association, Majid Al Futtaim has partnered with local health organisations and non-profit associations in each market to drive forward the ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign:  Ministry of Health and City Centre Clinic in the UAE; King Hamad University Hospital in Bahrain; Oman Medical Specialty Board in Oman; American University of Beirut in Lebanon and Canadian Cardiac Care in Egypt.

Founded by the American Heart Association in 2004, ‘Go Red for Women’ has grown into a global campaign with more than 30 participating countries.  Majid Al Futtaim brought it to the region for the first time in 2009 at City Centre, Deira.  The campaign’s logo carries the message ‘This is not a red dress.  It is a red alert,’ to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and control of cardiovascular disease amongst women.

“Majid Al Futtaim Healthcare was launched to complement Majid Al Futtaim’s portfolio with the aim to address the pressing need for qualified and accessible healthcare in the region.  With the recent opening of City Centre Clinic in Deira, we have the resources and expertise to join hands with the Ministry of Health, American Heart Association and Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping malls and roll out ‘Go Red for Women’ throughout the UAE. The campaign is aligned with our sustainability and long-term objectives to promote health and well-being through preventative health and early detection of serious health disease like cardiovascular disease,” stated Omar Al Shunnar, MD and Clinical Director, Majid Al Futtaim – Healthcare.