World Heart Failure Congress 2008: 12 - 14 of February 2008 ,
Al-Ain- United Arab Emirates :

Under the Patronage of HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University,The Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University & World Heart Failure Society Welcome you to the World Heart Failure Congress 2008 : 12 - 14 of February 2008, Al-Ain- United Arab Emirates

Heart failure should no longer be considered a specific problem of developed countries, but, rather, a global disease requiring a global response. In nearly all regions of the world heart failure is on the rise.

In order to contain such an epidemic, it is important to establish the prevalence and specific causes of heart failure in different regions of the developing world, and identify regional preventive measures and therapeutic regimens.

Stimulation of local research activities in the area of heart failure, and specific educational programmes for patients and health care providers are some of the examples to reach this goal. Such initiatives require an organisation entirely and exclusively operating in the field of heart failure. For this purpose, the WHFS was initiated in 2005 with a focus on developing countries. Its aims are to fulfil the goals set out above by creating an organisation of doctors, nurses, epidemio­logists, health care authorities and others with an interest in and knowledge of heart failure and its regional implications.

The specific aims of the WHFS include the collection of available data on heart failure diagnosis and treatment in emerging areas, the support and initiation of epidemiological surveys in different regions of the developing world, to prepare relevant guidelines and to organise heart failure courses and initiate International Fellowship Programmes for developing countries.

Whilst several of these initiatives have already started World Heart Failure 2008 provides a unique opportunity to also fulfil the educational aspirations of the WHFS.

The programme reflects the mission of the Society by providing a broad, but in-depth presentation of current issues in heart failure which are or soon will be relevant in developing countries.