ABU DHABI

INT37International/HealthUAE to launch health censusAbu Dhabi, Sep 22 Xinhua The United Arab Emirates UAE will soon launch its first health census as part of a plan to overhaul and streamline health services, The National newspaper reported Monday. The nationwide survey will be conducted by the Arab federation's health ministry and monitored by the World Health Organization WHO, according to the report. The ministry said the census will help in creating a database for use in formulating healthcare policies."The database will help us build in the future our strategic plan to design the way in which we can handle the health of the people of the UAE," said Huda Al Suwaidi, project manager of the WHO health survey in the UAE said. "A lot of the strategic and action plans done before in the country were based on theoretical approaches, looking at what is happening in other countries. Now whatever plan we draw, it will be built on very strong data and evidence," Suwaidi added. The first stage of the survey that will involve 5,000 people is expected to begin in December and to be completed within the next four months. --Xinhuadkg/dg208 Words22091418