AR
UR
A new foetal medicine and therapy centre has been opened in Abu Dhabi with the aim of improving the outcome of pregnancies and saving the lives of mothers and babies in the region. It is the region's first-of-its-kind foetal therapy centre launched as part of the partnership between the Foetal Medicine Research Institute in King's College London and Foetal Medicine Department at Burjeel Medical City.
According to Professor Kypros Nicolaides, known as the ‘Father of Foetal Medicine,’ the Kypros Nicolaides Foetal Medicine and Therapy Center at Burjeel Medical City will provide the highest quality care to patients in the UAE and beyond.
Speaking in an interview with the media, Prof. Nicolaides expressed his willingness to improve the standard and quality of foetal medicine care for people in the UAE.
Foetal medicine is a branch of medicine focusing on monitoring the health and wellbeing concerns of mother and foetus before, during and shortly after pregnancy, particularly in high-risk cases.
In this area, care and therapy include foetal growth and wellbeing, identifying any abnormalities or complications, developing effective treatment plans for both mother and foetus and providing required counselling and support for parents.
Prof Nicolaides leads the Foetal Medicine Research Institute at King’s College Hospital in London. His pioneering work has strengthened the UK's positioning as a global leader in women’s health.
The association between Burjeel Medical City's Fetal Medicine Department and King's College's Foetal Medicine Research Institute is a crucial example of the UAE's ability to attract top experts from across the world and provide world-class care to community members in need.
Prof Nicolaides noted the collaboration with Burjeel Medical City emerged due to the institute's position as a leading medical care provider.
"I have a long-standing association with Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare,” he said.
He further stated that the centre will deal with all aspects of foetal medicine and foetal surgery. It will employ modern technologies and innovative methods to provide the best care in the UAE.
"We continuously strive to improve the quality of care and find treatments for the many conditions that adversely harm mothers and babies," he added.
Pregnant women in the region often travel to the West for necessary treatment in case of complex foetal problems. Foetal surgery can be performed to treat spina bifida, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and twin to twin transfusion. Therefore, the new centre is aimed at meeting the increasing requirement for foetal medicine and therapy.
Gestational diabetes is one of the major medical complications in pregnancy. As a result, most of the institution's research will focus on gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, the professor added.
The findings and outcomes of these research studies will serve as significant to the medical team's work at Burjeel Medical City and the UAE.
The Centre's medical team will be led by Dr Mandeep Singh, medical director and consultant in maternal and foetal medicine of Burjeel Farha. He formerly served as the director of the Kypros Nicolaides Fetal Medicine Center at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Dr Singh will work in collaboration with Prof Nicolaides in handling complex problems related to babies and expectant mothers. The Centre will also be staffed with experts from London’s King’s College Hospital.
According to Dr Vayalil, the centre's launch is a momentous occasion for being the first-of-its-kind integrated facility in the region.
“This is a decisive step toward providing comprehensive foetal care to patients undergoing high-risk pregnancies in the UAE. The department will offer high-quality services to facilitate the best outcomes for both mother and baby during pregnancy, labour, delivery, and the post-partum period," the expert added.
Prof Nicolaides revolutionised foetal medicine through his detailed research and medical practice achievements in the field. From introducing intrauterine blood transfusions for foetal anaemia to performing endoscopic laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, he emerged as the ‘Father of Foetal Medicine'.
He is a recipient of the Grand Cross of Makarios III – the highest civilian honour awarded by Cyprus. In 2020, he was elected for the US National Academy of Medicine - one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine.
“I have five-year-olds and 30-year-olds visiting me saying I treated them before they were even born. I think that is the most satisfying feeling to have as a doctor,” Prof. Nicolaides added.
SOURCE: Khaleej Times