UAE Helping Hands: Mother needs surgery to lose weight that poses threat to life

Hanadi Ali, 40, became morbidly obese after taking steroids to ease her allergies.

Hanadi Ali needs bariatric surgery for her condition. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

ABU DHABI // Hanadi Ali is in a race against time to lose weight.

Doctors have told Mrs Ali, who weighs more than 180 kilograms, that she must have surgery to reduce her weight or face becoming seriously ill.

“Currently it’s just my knees that are damaged and I am grateful that it’s only that,” says Mrs Ali, 40.

She has a three-year-old daughter and caring for the child is difficult. “I want to lose weight and I have tried a million diets but nothing works,” Mrs Ali says.

To alleviate her allergies, “the doctor put me on steroids and I kept gaining weight. I didn’t understand why”.

Over a few years, Mrs Ali has gained more than 30kg. The steroids have also disrupted her hormones.

Her husband, who found employment last month, earns Dh2,000 a month.

Bariatric surgery, which Mrs Ali needs, costs Dh26,000.

“I’ve looked for the cheapest place I could have it done and I was told that it would cost no less than Dh26,000,” she says. “I can’t afford to pay that.”

Mrs Ali, a Syrian, has been a UAE resident for 30 years. She and her husband have no health insurance.

“The weight gain started only after the steroids, which ruined my life. I wish doctors had warned me,” she says.

“They told me that my hormones will stabilise only after I lose weight. I can’t wait for that day to come. I’ll be a better mum and wife, and my life won’t be at risk.”

Hisham Al Zahrani, manager of zakat and social services at Dar Al Ber, urged the public to help Mrs Ali.

“Without surgery, Mrs Ali will not be able to lose the weight and her life is at risk. She needs Dh26,000 for surgery, which the family can’t afford,” he said.

Last month, The National reported on the need for insurance companies to cover bariatric surgery.

The healthcare system could save millions of dirhams a year if weight-loss surgery and follow-up cosmetic procedures were covered by health insurance, doctors said.

Such operations can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

But insurers will not cover the procedures because they view them as short-term solutions. They said patients should commit to healthy diets and exercise to lose weight.

Weight-loss surgery costs up to Dh50,000, with further costs for cosmetic operation to remove excess skin.

The number of operations on morbidly obese patients has risen by more than 5,000 a year, said the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

• To help, call the hotline on 0502955999, or send a WhatsApp message to the same number. Donations can be made by depositing money in Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE9805 000 000 000 11530734 or Dubai Islamic Bank account, Iban number AE8002 4000 352 0443 1952 01.