DoH Inks Collaboration with Eli Lilly and the World Obesity Federation on Obesity Prevention and Management

28 Mar, 2024:

Focused on enhancing the population’s health and longevity, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eli Lilly Suisse SA, a global pharmaceutical company, and the World Obesity Federation (WOF), a global non-profit organisation. In line with Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ambitions, this collaboration aims to address pressing healthcare challenges and drive innovative solutions on obesity prevention and management through multisectoral approaches.

Leveraging the parties’ diverse expertise, Abu Dhabi will spearhead a multisectoral initiative to effectively tackle obesity management and prevention across the Emirate, consolidating its position as leading destination for innovation in healthcare. The collaborative approach aims to bridge past divides that have hampered obesity efforts for years. Through this agreement, DoH and partners seek to empower healthcare professionals with the skills to effectively manage and quantify the economic burden of obesity in an effort to improve understanding, drive innovation in prevention and treatment solutions, and raise public awareness about managing obesity as a chronic disease.

Witnessed by H.E. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and David Ricks, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly Suisse SA, the MoU was signed by H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, Johanna Ralston, Chief Executive Officer at WOF and Irina Zaporozhets, President and General Manager, Middle East and Türkiye ( META) Hub at Eli Lilly Suisse SA.

H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) stated: “At the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) we are spearheading a new era of proactive health by tackling obesity at its root. The population’s health and longevity remain at the forefront of our priorities, and through our strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly Suisse SA and the World Obesity Federation (WOF), we aim to empower healthcare professionals, drive innovation in prevention strategies, and foster a culture of health awareness in line with the UAE national strategies. Together, we will build and secure a healthier and vibrant future for generations to come, thus reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for healthcare.”

Irina Zaporozhets, President and General Manager, Middle East and Turkey (META) Hub at Eli Lilly Suisse SA said: “Tackling serious diseases such as obesity demands coordinated action. Collaboration of this nature is critical to delivering better healthcare outcomes for people living with obesity today, and prevention for future generations. We are proud to be signing this agreement, the first of its kind in the UAE and an important step in driving change to advance obesity care.”

Johanna Ralston, CEO, the World Obesity Federation said: “The World Obesity Federation welcomes the leadership of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi in addressing obesity, and our collaboration is aimed at fostering more effective ways of working together across sectors. The complexity of obesity, and the high rates over the world, call for new ways of working together. We believe Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to demonstrate success through collaboration and bold leadership.”

The collaboration reflects the parties' commitment to improving the community’s health and wellbeing, by leveraging their diverse experiences to address the challenges associated with obesity. This is an important step towards developing innovative and effective strategies to combat obesity in the Emirate.