Latest news with #GerardDunleavy
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Arabian Post
UAE Air Pollution Reduction Could Unleash $596 Million in Annual Savings
Greenlogue/AP UAE health and finance leaders have been urged to expedite air quality improvements, with a new report estimating annual savings of $596 million if pollution levels align with World Health Organization guidelines. The projected gains stem from fewer hospital admissions, drops in respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and reduced premature mortality. The study, led by Economist Impact, highlighted over 94 per cent of the global population lives in areas exceeding WHO pollution limits—a trend reflected acutely in the Emirates. Within the UAE, approximately 4,000 lives could be saved annually by curbing pollution, underscoring both the human and economic toll of unclean air. ADVERTISEMENT Gerard Dunleavy, senior consultant at Economist Impact and co-author of the report, described air pollution as 'one of the most urgent health challenges'. He noted that the $596 million in benefits is not solely from reduced hospital usage, but also from broader gains in productivity and societal well-being. Dunleavy stressed that strategies must go beyond vehicle emissions, touching on public health education and access to primary care—particularly in vulnerable communities. The report forms part of the wider Health Inclusivity Index evaluation, emphasizing that social determinants—such as health literacy and access to healthcare—play a critical role in environmental and health outcomes. For instance, a modest 25 per cent improvement in health literacy could yield US $2.3 billion in national savings. The UAE already exceeds WHO limits for PM2.5 and PM10, largely due to vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and construction dust. While improvements have been registered for NO2 and SO2, particulate matter often struggles to meet guidelines due to both anthropogenic and natural sources such as desert dust. Government institutions have moved ahead with initiatives like the National Air Quality Agenda 2031, aiming to tighten standards on pollutants and enhance monitoring networks. Experts recommend scaling up interventions like roadside air filtration, green zones, stricter emission controls for transport and industry, and educational campaigns through clinics, particularly in lower-income areas. The healthcare cost of asthma remains a concern. A 2014 study in Abu Dhabi reported direct treatment expenses of US $29 million for over 139,000 asthma patients—costs that could be slashed with cleaner air and stronger disease control. That study further revealed that outpatient visits and emergency care accounted for approximately 80 per cent of asthma-related expenses. Environmental scholars also endorse a multisectoral policy response. Comparison studies of Dubai's air quality from 2013 to 2021 revealed NO2 and SO2 concentrations dropped by 54 per cent and 93 per cent respectively, despite rapid urban expansion. The research attributes this to stringent emissions standards, but notes PM10 remains problematic due to regional dust sources. Looking ahead, public health experts advise aligning national air standards more closely with WHO's 2021 guidance, which significantly lowered safe concentration thresholds. They also champion investments in community-level health interventions—mobile clinics, educational outreach, and free screening—to magnify the benefits of cleaner air among marginalised populations.
The National
4 days ago
- Health
- The National
Improving UAE air quality could save $596 million a year
Improving air quality in the UAE to meet World Health Organisation guidelines could generate savings of $596 million a year, a report has found. The savings would come from lower rates of respiratory illness, hospital admissions and premature deaths. Access to health care and health education for limited-income communities could also save lives and generate billions of dirhams in economic value each year, the Health Inclusivity Index said. The report, developed by Economist Impact in partnership with global consumer health company Haleon, was launched in Abu Dhabi. It assessed how 40 countries can remove barriers to good health through enhanced policy, systems and community initiatives. 'Air pollution is one of the most urgent health challenges,' said Gerard Dunleavy, a senior consultant at Economist Impact and lead author of the report. 'The savings come not just from fewer hospital visits, but from healthier, more productive lives across society.' According to the report, 94 per cent of people globally breathe air with pollution levels that exceed WHO recommended levels, which harms their health. Reducing air pollution brings clear health and economic benefits across the board, with the greatest gains for lower-income populations, the report stated. While the UAE scored highly in several categories, the research also included findings that, if addressed, could lead to major public health and economic gains. Among them is the challenge of improving air quality, with the index finding that reducing levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometres in diameter, to meet WHO guidelines could prevent almost 4,000 premature deaths a year. In 2024, the concentration of PM2.5 in the UAE was 33.7 micrograms per cubic metre. The WHO recommends a maximum of five micrograms per cubic metre, a figure met by only seven countries in last year's World Air Quality Report from Swiss company IQAir. Countries with the worst air pollution Improved understanding The Economist Impact report found that, across the 40 countries studied, medical expenses are 2.8 times higher for people with low health literacy compared with those who have a better understanding of their health. Here in the UAE, a national effort to improve health literacy by 25 per cent could save as much as $2.3 billion a year. 'People with low health literacy are more likely to end up in emergency rooms, take the wrong medication and struggle with long-term health issues,' Mr Dunleavy said. 'That puts enormous pressure, not only on the health system, but also on families and the wider economy.' He called for a 'life-course approach" to address this, with education and outreach efforts beginning from a young age. 'This means not just teaching children to brush their teeth, but helping older adults understand and use digital health tools,' he said. 'It's about finding the right message for each stage of life and each segment of the population.' The index also emphasised the value in dental care. Addressing gum disease could save $809 million over 10 years, while focusing efforts to tackle tooth decay among limited-income communities could yield savings of $572 million. Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, executive director of the community health sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said many of the costs identified in the report were preventable. 'This report confirms what we already know: most of these health expenses can be avoided with early action,' she said. 'From obesity to dental pain, the burden on the healthcare system is often avoidable through education, awareness and policy.' Making progress Speaking at a launch event for the report, Dr Al Hajeri praised the UAE's progress. 'We are doing well, but there is always room for improvement,' she said. 'The goal is to empower every individual, from early childhood to late adulthood, to take control of their health, make informed choices and unlock their full potential.' She cited community campaigns, school health programmes and workplace wellness policies as examples of how the UAE is enhancing the focus on health. Heat awareness campaigns for outdoor workers and workplace wellness initiatives have helped to reach limited-income and high-risk groups. 'Health is not only about treating disease, it's about creating the conditions where people can live well,' she added. 'That starts at home, at school and in the workplace.' Arda Arat, general manager of Haleon for the region, said: "The place to begin is health literacy – that's why our global goal is to empower 50 million people each year to take charge of their everyday health." Economist Impact is in discussions with UAE authorities about potential follow-up studies, including the development of a national health literacy database. The latest report said the UAE was 'well positioned to lead' in future rankings. 'There's no doubt the infrastructure is strong,' Dr Al Hajeri said. 'The next step is changing behaviour, empowering people to be proactive, informed and confident in managing their health. That's where we will see the real transformation.' What the UAE is doing The UAE has taken significant steps in recent years to promote a green agenda, at home and abroad. In June, President Sheikh Mohamed set out the country's efforts to champion meaningful climate action to help protect the planet for future generations. Dubai hosted the Cop28 climate change conference in 2023, where countries came together to deliver the landmark UAE Consensus. The deal called for the international community to transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while it also set targets to greatly increase global renewable energy capacity. The UAE has introduced policies including a ban on single-use plastic bags, which began in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and was extended across the country. In Abu Dhabi, the move led to about 360 million plastic bags being taken out of circulation by the end of 2024. Large-scale energy projects such as the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which aims to prevent the release of up to 22.4 million carbon emissions each year, and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world's largest single-site solar park, are at the heart of the country's environmental ambitions. Dubai has focused on air pollution, with the Air Quality Strategy 2030 announced in June by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions through car-free residential areas and an expansion of green spaces. Such moves have achieved a measure of success. While the concentration of PM2.5 in the UAE remains above the WHO guidelines, it dropped by more than a fifth from 2023 to 2024, from 43 micrograms per cubic metre to 33.7. Habiba Al Marashi, chairwoman of Emirates Environmental Group, told The National in March that every emirate monitored air quality and steps had been taken to reduce pollution. Reductions in the amount of traffic may have helped to improve air quality, she added. Diana Francis, who leads the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Lab at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that, since 2010, the UAE had experienced a decrease in the levels in the air of aerosols – all types of dust and pollution.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Air pollution causes 4,000 preventable deaths each year, study finds
Reducing air pollution to World Health Organization (WHO) target levels could save nearly 4,000 lives annually in the UAE, according to a new global study measuring health inclusivity across 40 countries. The Health Inclusivity Index, developed by Haleon in partnership with Economist Impact and launched this week in Abu Dhabi, reveals that lowering PM2.5 particulate matter to the recommended limit of 5µg/m³ would not only prevent thousands of deaths but also result in $596 million in economic gains each year — with the lowest-income groups benefiting the most. 'Within each country it's different — there are different sources of air pollution,' said Gerard Dunleavy, senior consultant at Economist Impact. 'Whether that's having older cars on the road or measures to capture PM2.5 using greener technologies to reduce it, there's a range of different aspects that need to be done.' The UAE currently exceeds WHO-recommended thresholds for air pollution, according to the report. Although efforts are underway to transition to greener technologies, experts say more urgent interventions are required to reduce health risks associated with prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter. High costs of low health literacy Another key finding of the report highlights the massive economic burden of low health literacy, which is linked to 2.8 times higher healthcare costs per person. If the UAE were to reduce the prevalence of low health literacy by just 25 per cent, the estimated annual national savings could reach $2.3 billion. 'This report is confirming what we all know,' said Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of the Community Health Sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. 'A lot of the diseases and the expenses from the health sector are 100 per cent preventable by doing the right actions at the right time and as early as possible.' Dr Al Hajeri explained that simple, everyday behaviours — such as oral hygiene — can significantly affect long-term health outcomes. 'Learning and teaching your children dental hygiene at a very early stage can save them from related diseases, from pain, absenteeism, and huge consequences that don't only affect the health sector.' Dunleavy noted that the primary drivers of increased healthcare costs among those with low health literacy include prescription medications, emergency room visits, and poor adherence to treatment. 'There are a lot more costs beyond that,' he added. 'If people have lower health literacy, they're going to have longer stays in hospital, they're less likely to adhere to their medication, and they're going to have other health issues. It impacts their ability to work.' UAE ranks first in health outreach, but gaps remain The UAE ranked first globally in the index's pillar on community participation and outreach in health policy, and among the top five for person-centred healthcare experiences. However, it placed only tenth in health literacy, underscoring a persistent disconnect between policy-level engagement and population-level knowledge. "From the outreach perspective, we were looking for evidence of initiatives that demonstrate efforts to meet people where they are,' Dunleavy explained. 'There are programmes targeting senior citizens, school-based education on oral health and obesity, and efforts to improve digital health literacy.' Dr Al Hajeri described the centre's life-course approach to community health promotion, starting from early childhood. 'The real target is having people reach the maximum health potential that they can achieve based on their genetic composition, surrounding environment, and available awareness and education services,' she said. Abu Dhabi has already rolled out several targeted initiatives to reach vulnerable populations. 'Our campaigns are actually targeting the whole community,' she said. 'We have school-based health-promoting schools policy, workplace wellness programmes, and specific campaigns for blue-collar workers.' She cited recent efforts like the 'Heat Aware' campaign, which addresses seasonal risks for labourers, and noise protection and height safety initiatives for those in high-risk industries. 'We also do regulation. We have a lot of policies that get implemented in workplaces to ensure the safety and health of all parts of the community,' she said. Women's health: A costly blind spot The index also found that 24.3% of women of reproductive age in the UAE suffer from anaemia. Achieving a 50% reduction — as targeted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals — would save the country $336 million annually through lower healthcare costs and improved productivity. 'This is exactly the kind of issue our 'In Her Hands' campaign is addressing,' said Arda Arat, General Manager of GNE at Haleon. 'Women have a big role within family health management, although not always said. We can celebrate this but also leverage it.' Arat explained that Haleon's focus is on enabling better self-care through digital literacy tools, inclusive system design, and greater access to pain management resources. 'Our ambition is to empower 50 million people every year to take charge of their own health,' he said. The report also flagged musculoskeletal conditions and osteoporosis as high-cost burdens in the UAE, particularly among women aged 15+ and adults aged 50+. Better prevention and management of these conditions could yield $160 million and $170 million in annual savings, respectively. Reducing hip fractures by 30 per cent and spinal fractures by 20 per cent could alone save an additional $62 million per year. The next step? The study is based on data collected from over 42,000 people across 40 countries, including both online and face-to-face surveys in the UAE. Dunleavy noted that a follow-up health literacy study is under discussion between Haleon and Economist Impact to dive deeper into local drivers and policy gaps. "There's no global database for health literacy right now, and countries are measuring it differently,' he said. 'What was unique here is we had a common survey instrument across all 40 countries.' Arat added, 'What's next is collaboration. I think the intentions we saw today are aligned. Now it needs to go into learning from benchmarks and echoing what the UAE is already trying to do. We'll sit down with Dr Omniyat and put a clear action plan forward. That's the idea.'
