Dubai launches two clinics to address long-Covid symptoms

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has introduced post-Covid-19 clinics at two of its health centres in Dubai.

The clinics will take place on Tuesdays at the Al Barsha Health Centre and on Thursdays at the Nad Al Hammar Health Centre.

These clinics are for patients with lingering symptoms, often referred to as ‘long-COVID’ as the symptoms persist 4 to 12 weeks after the onset of the illness.

Patients will also be offered a comprehensive assessment with a medical specialist, a range of diagnostic tests and treatments tailored to each patient’s specific post-Covid symptoms.

The services at the clinic are not available for pregnant women and children under the age of six.

Patients can book an appointment through the DHA’s call centre 800 342. They can get a referral from a doctor at a DHA hospital or DHA primary health centre or a telemedicine referral from DHA’s Doctor for Every Citizen service.

Do you have persistent symptoms 4 weeks or more after #COVID19? pic.twitter.com/0r61dOI1Kg

— هيئة الصحة بدبي (@DHA_Dubai) September 22, 2021

If an individual did not visit a DHA Covid-19 assessment centre when they were infected with the virus, they must carry with them documents proving they had the virus. These include a positive Covid-19 lab result confirming that they had the infection four weeks age, laboratory test results when they were infected with Covid-19 (if available) and also a chest X-Ray of when they had Covid-19 (if available).

Dr. Hanan Al Hammadi, family medicine consultant and director of Medical Affairs at DHA’s Primary Health Care Sector, highlighted the importance of the clinics. “Post-Covid-19 clinics help support patients who experience lingering symptoms weeks or months after being cleared of the illness. The clinic aims to conduct a thorough investigation, get all the necessary tests done and refer patients to specialists in cases where they need particular medical intervention in specific areas such as pulmonology, cardiology, mental health or neurology. The aim is to diagnose medical issues that need intervention and help the patient move towards a path of recovery and wellbeing.”

On Wednesday, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 318 new Covid-19 cases, raising the total number of recorded cases in the country to 733,643. There were 380 recoveries recorded over the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of recoveries to 725,634 and two additional deaths due to Covid complications were also recorded, taking the overall death toll as a result of the virus in the country to 2,080.