ABU DHABI // When three-year-old Sara Bouhida had a high temperature and stomach pains, her parents thought that it was a common childhood ailment.
It was only when her condition deteriorated, and they had to make a late-night trip to the emergency department at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, that Sumeia and Hassan Bouhida found out that their daughter had cancer.
Doctors diagnosed leukaemia in Sara in February 2008. Now five, she has endured two years of chemotherapy at the capital's largest public hospital.
More than 400 children are receiving treatment, or have been treated, at the hospital. The staff work hard to make it more of a family environment than a clinical one.
To mark International Childhood Cancer Day yesterday, the hospital hosted a party for its young patients and their families.
Face-painting, drawing, arts and crafts, and a special dance performance were organised for more than 30 of the ward's patients. They were also given gifts by staff.
Mrs Bouhida, from Libya, was one of the guests. "I am very proud of my girl," she said. "The doctors and nurses here are so good. They understand all your worries and will help with anything they can."
It was reassuring to meet families going through the same thing with their children. "Seeing children who have finished their treatment helps us a lot," she said. "These are all normal little children and they are treated very well here."
Cancer is still a relatively taboo topic in the Arab world.
Indeed, Mrs Bouhida did not know that it could affect children before Sara fell ill. "I hadn't heard before that children had cancer but now I see two or three new children come here every week," she said.
"Cancer is not something to be ashamed about and events like this show people how proud we are."
Sara's sister Selima, eight, is a familiar face at the hospital. "They are very good, it is hard for children to understand but the nurses and doctors help all of us," Mrs Bouhida said.
Doctors say Sara faces six more months of chemotherapy. She has recently started attending the British School-Al Khubairat in between her monthly sessions. "She is a normal little girl," her mother said.
The hospital's paediatric oncology unit has 13 in-patient beds and a 10-bed day unit. According to the central cancer registry, based at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, leukaemia and brain cancer are the most common childhood cancers in the UAE.
Dr Azzam Alzoebie, senior consultant and head of the paediatric haematology and oncology programme, said the unit followed about 420 former patients, from one month to 15 years old.
Another mother at yesterday's event, who did not want to be named, said it was "very tough" to cope with a child who had cancer. The hospital's staff provided invaluable support, she added.
"My daughter doesn't understand very much about it, but she loves coming here, she sees it as a day out," the mother said. Her four-year-old girl has a brain tumour and receives treatment on a six-month cycle. "She thinks she is getting vitamins put into her body, she is too young to understand."
Support from the hospital staff was not simply a benefit, but a necessity, the woman said. "Sometimes family do not understand, they just think 'poor girl'. Here the staff understand everything we are all feeling."
Dr Alzoebie said part of the hospital's role in the community was to raise awareness of childhood cancer.
According to the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisation, up to 100,000 children die each year because they do not have access to the right services.
With the right treatment, between 75 and 80 per cent of patients would survive, it says. International Childhood Cancer Day, an annual event, has been marked at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City for the past five years.
"Our objective for participating is to promote the importance of early diagnosis of all different types of cancer and getting the right treatment," said Dr Tej Maini, the hospital's chief executive.
The hospital was committed to educating not only the patients "but also the community on disease control and prevention", he said.
Saeed al Ali, 36, travels to the hospital from Umm al Qaiwain with his nine-year-old son, who has leukaemia. The boy faces nearly two more years of treatment before life can return to normal. After his first round of treatment in Bangkok, the family decided to travel back and forth to Abu Dhabi.
"The nurses and doctors are available all the time on the phone to answer any questions we have," said Mr al Ali, an administrator.
"My son is a very normal boy who loves cycling, football and his laptop. He comes here every 28 days, and everyone is very good to him."
munderwood@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Read more about the coronavirus
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
The%20specs
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs: 2019 Audi A8
Price From Dh390,000
Engine 3.0L V6 turbo
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy, combined 7.5L / 100km