A S U

As part of ongoing efforts to support patients with diabetes and reduce diabetic foot complications, Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals, and Prof. Essam Fakhry Obeid, Deputy Executive Director of the University Hospitals and General Director of El-Demerdash Hospital, inaugurated the “Healthy Foot” Initiative Room at the outpatient clinics. The facility is part of an initiative by Misr El Kheir Foundation, with generous support from the National Bank of Egypt, reflecting their continued partnership and commitment to supporting the healthcare sector and university hospitals.

Prof. Tarek Youssef stated that the opening of the initiative room comes in implementation of the directives of Prof. Ali El-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University Hospitals. He highlighted the leading role of El-Demerdash Hospitals as one of Egypt’s largest university hospital complexes, with a long-standing history of treating diabetes and its complications.

He noted that Ain Shams University Hospitals have been among the pioneering institutions in diabetes treatment and research, as they are home to the first Center for Pancreatic Cell Treatment and Research affiliated with Ain Shams University Hospitals. He emphasized the importance of providing comprehensive care for patients with diabetes, particularly given the health, psychological, social, and economic burdens associated with the disease and its complications, most notably diabetic foot complications.

The Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals explained that the “Healthy Foot” Initiative aims to ease the burden on patients by focusing on preventive measures and early intervention, in cooperation with the Vascular Surgery Department at Ain Shams University Hospitals and the Faculty of Medicine.

He added that the initiative prioritizes prevention, followed by early detection and efforts to reduce risk factors, thereby helping prevent the progression of diabetic foot complications. For patients who have already developed complications, the initiative provides access to the latest appropriate treatment methods, in addition to medical supplies and wound-dressing materials completely free of charge. Such supplies often represent a significant financial and social burden for patients.

These services are provided with the generous support and contribution of Misr El Kheir Foundation and the National Bank of Egypt, with patients receiving continuous follow-up through the outpatient clinics to ensure continuity of care and improve the quality of services provided.

The inauguration was attended by several officials from Misr El Kheir Foundation and the National Bank of Egypt, along with Prof. Mohamed Zaki, Director of El-Obour Hospital, and Dr. Ahmed Abdel Latif, Director of the El-Demerdash Outpatient Clinics.

The “Healthy Foot” Initiative represents an important step toward supporting patients with diabetic foot complications. It aims to alleviate the health and economic burden associated with the condition, which poses a major challenge for many patients, particularly given the high cost of treatment and ongoing care.

Prof. Tarek Youssef emphasized that the initiative represents the first step toward developing a comprehensive and integrated system for diabetes care at Ain Shams University Hospitals, based on a vision that brings together the various medical specialties involved in treating diabetes and its complications.

The integrated care system is planned to encompass endocrinology and diabetes, physical medicine and rehabilitation, vascular surgery, electrophysiological diagnostics, as well as rehabilitation services and the provision of prosthetic limbs and appropriate medical footwear for patients with diabetes.

The initiative reflects the community, educational, and healthcare role of Ain Shams University and its hospitals as one of the leading academic and medical institutions in Egypt and the Arab region, as well as their continued commitment to providing integrated healthcare services in accordance with the latest scientific and medical practices.

Following the inauguration, Prof. Tarek Youssef distributed medical supplies, wound-dressing materials, and medications to several patients benefiting from the initiative. He also listened to their feedback on the initiative and their healthcare needs.

He directed the outpatient clinics administration and the team responsible for the initiative to work on meeting the needs raised by patients during the meeting. He also stressed the importance of continuously developing the services provided to ensure the highest possible standard of healthcare and alleviate the burdens faced by patients with diabetes and diabetic foot complications.