The Ministry of Health and Community Protection has launched the National Health and Nutrition Survey Campaign 2024-2025 in partnership with the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, local health agencies, and statistics centres across the UAE.
This ambitious program intends to collect exact data on the health and nutritional status of the Emirates, as well as to update critical databases and assess health performance indicators.
The systematic collection of field data is poised to inform policymakers, shape strategic health initiatives, and assess the effectiveness of health policies at a national level.
Awareness and preparation
Following its announcement during a press conference in May, the Ministry has launched an extensive awareness campaign through various media channels, including the website and social media platforms. A dedicated hotline (80011111) has been established to address inquiries regarding the survey's stages and field operations. Families selected to participate in the survey are encouraged to assist field teams, facilitating the success of this pivotal health initiative.
Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Al-Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, emphasized the collaborative effort with local authorities in deploying the survey teams. He highlighted that the collected data will serve as a foundation for enhancing healthcare services and improving public health across the UAE.
Dr. Al-Rand articulated the survey's role in advancing the country towards a world-leading health system, underscoring its potential to inform innovative health policies tailored to the diverse needs of society and supporting sustainable development goals.
Dr. Alia Zaid Harbi, Director of the Ministry of Statistics and Research Center, outlined the meticulous approach adopted for data collection, adhering to international standards endorsed by the World Health Organization and local health authorities. The survey employs electronic questionnaires available in Arabic, English, Hindi, and Urdu to ensure comprehensive and accurate data collection from diverse societal segments.
It includes a wide range of nutritional and health variables, including biophysical measurements, healthcare accessibility, noncommunicable illnesses, economic considerations, nutritional intake, and mother and child health.
Dr. Harbi guaranteed confidentiality by saying that the information gathered will only be utilized for statistics and scientific analysis. She emphasized the teams' direct influence on future healthcare policy in the UAE and asked individuals and residents chosen for the survey to collaborate with them.
Survey scope and demographics
The National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025 targets a sample of 10,000 families for both health and nutrition assessments, comprising 40% citizens and 60% residents. Additionally, 2,000 individuals from workers’ housing are included in the survey. Key demographic groups encompass the elderly, adults over 18 years old, females aged 15-49 years, pregnant women, and children from infancy to 17 years old.
To ensure transparency, the Ministry has outlined methods to verify the identity of survey teams. Employees wear designated uniforms bearing the Ministry's logo and the survey campaign emblem. Their identities can be further confirmed by comparing their photos and information on their identification cards with those provided during field visits.
