Fintech PR
Empathy in Action: Takeda’s Global Initiative Brings IBD Challenges to the Forefront in the UAE
Takeda’s ‘In Their Shoes’ initiative illuminates the daily struggles of IBD patients in the UAE, fostering empathy and understanding among participants.
DUBAI, UAE, March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Takeda, the patient-centric biopharmaceutical company, brought its global ‘In Their Shoes’ program to the UAE. The initiative, focused on raising awareness of the difficult symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), entailed an immersive 24-hour simulation that generated a deeper understanding of how the disease affects the daily lives of patients.
It is estimated that more than 10 million people worldwide live with IBD.1
Traditionally, IBD has been regarded as a disease of the Western world; however, studies over the last two decades have shown a rapidly increasing incidence in newly industrialised countries in the Middle East, Asia, and South America2. It is estimated that 2-4% of the UAE population is affected with one of the two IBD subtypes, Crohn’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis3
IBD is a lifelong condition characterized by chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract3. While inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to irritation or injury, in patients with IBD, it is thought that the body’s own immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless food or bacteria within the gut as ‘foreign’ and attacks it3. This mistake by the immune system leads to an upset in the normal function of the gut and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea. IBD can lead to debilitating effects on patients and society2.
The ‘In Their Shoes’ initiative offers participants (Healthcare Professionals) a profound understanding of IBD throughout a 24-hour simulation, that took place on September 7th, 2023, and ended the next day. Using a mobile app and an ‘IBD kit,’ participants engaged in common struggles, gaining insights into the disease’s physical and emotional challenges. Through role-play and interactions with actors, they gain valuable perspective on how IBD affects patients’ both professional and personal life.
Although the simulation couldn’t fully replicate the experience, it is meant to foster empathy for individuals living with IBD. The initiative falls in line with Takeda’s people-first focus, that not only encompasses patients, but caregivers, medical professionals, employees, and the wider communities in which they operate.
1- https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/WorldIBDDay. Last accessed Nov 2023
2- Ng SC, Shi HY, Hamidi N, et al. Worldwide incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the 21st century: a systematic review of population-based studies. Lancet 2017;390:2769–78
3- https://ibduae.ae/about-ibd/. Last accessed Nov. 2023
Of the esteemed participants was Sheikha Dr Alia Humaid AlQassimi, Aesthetic Gynaecologist at Al Garhoud Private Hospital, and Social Development Expert at the Community Development Authority, who commented on her experience in the simulation, “The most unexpected realization about the challenges that IBD patients face was the around-the-clock inconvenience of needing a restroom, as a result of the inconsistent bowel movements known to the disease. With the actors present as part of the simulation, I was able to feel the burden of being someone who is in constant need of special care. In addition to that, I was shocked to learn that the only solution to alleviate the symptoms in extreme cases is to undergo a colostomy, an operation that creates an opening for the colon through the abdomen.”
Dr AlQassimi further commented on the experience’s influence on her professional approach as a healthcare provider saying, “The experience was a reminder that being patient-centred requires the utmost empathy and consideration for my patients. It is crucial to believe a patient when they express pain or discomfort, a point that’s been made so much clearer now that I’ve taken part in this program. In the future, I hope to see initiatives like this being adopted across the country and wider region to ensure that awareness is raised for this challenging disease. This includes medical schools infusing a volunteering prerequisite for students as part of the curriculum, awareness programs designed to teach children about IBD and other conditions from a young age, and the formation of support groups for those suffering from IBD and their loved ones. The key here is to ensure the optimal environment that supports the highest possible quality of life for IBD patients.”
Dr. Maryam Al Khatry, founder of the Emirates Inflammatory Bowel Disease Society, confirms her full support for this pioneering initiative. She stressed that highlighting the challenges of this disease goes beyond the issue of awareness, as it is a call to everyone to consider those suffering from the symptoms of the disease and help them overcome its impact on their daily lives and work. As medical teams and individuals in this community, we are committed to promoting the spirit of unlimited support with the goal of further integrating those affected into our community. Through the Emirates Inflammatory Bowel Disease Society, we confirm our support for this vital initiative, and we stand by all initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life and enhance the productivity of individuals in our society.
Ahmed Fayed, General Manager for Gulf countries & Lebanon, at Takeda, said, “At Takeda, our commitment to addressing life-limiting gastrointestinal diseases is unwavering. Alongside our continuous work on innovative treatments within our gastroenterology portfolio, we recognize the significant impact programs like ‘In Their Shoes’ can have on improving patients’ lives. We take pride in cultivating advocates, both within our organization and externally, who genuinely empathize with the disease, exemplifying Takeda’s dedication to a patient-first approach.”
The ‘In Their Shoes’ initiative was first launched in the U.S. with a 24-hour simulation during which dozens of Takeda employees learned about the condition in the most effective and profound way: by “living with it.” Following the success of the launch at our U.S. headquarters, Takeda extended the reach of “In Their Shoes” by organizing more simulations across the globe, with the aim of spreading awareness and knowledge of IBD’s negative effects on its sufferers’ daily lives.
About Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) (NYSE: TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people’s lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality- diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOESN’T PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE This initiative partnered with healthcare Professionals only. All information, including but not limited to text, names and comments contained in this article are for informational purpose only and not intended to be substitute of professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment .For more information ,always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider .
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2360606/4589733/Takeda_logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/empathy-in-action-takedas-global-initiative-brings-ibd-challenges-to-the-forefront-in-the-uae-302101074.html
Fintech PR
Ethara: EMIRATI SISTERS AMNA AND HAMDA AL QUBAISI RETURN TO YAS MARINA CIRCUIT FOR F1 ACADEMY SEASON FINALE
The single-seater all-female championship series, Formula 1 Academy, wraps up an exciting season of racing at Yas Marina Circuit, supporting the Formula 1 season finale from 5-8 December
Ambassadors of Abu-Dhabi based team, Yas Heat Racing, Hamda and Amna will race at home with Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB – capping off their second season in the championship
ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In their second season competing in F1 Academy, the prestigious single-seater support series, Hamda and Amna Al Qubaisi have taken their racing careers to new heights. From 6-8 December, the two young Emirati drivers return to Yas Marina Circuit, where they first developed and honed their skills, to conclude an exhilarating season of on-track action.
Having cultivated their passion for racing in Abu Dhabi, the sisters flourished into competitive athletes under the Yas Heat Academy umbrella, the capital’s premier racing development programme. Now competing for two of the championship’s most competitive teams and serving as ambassadors for Yas Heat Racing, Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi continue to embody the nation’s vision of nurturing young talent at the grassroots level.
Hamda Al Qubaisi was signed by Red Bull Racing for the team’s debut season in F1 Academy. The 22-year-old has delivered standout performances throughout the campaign, culminating in a strong showing at the penultimate race of the 2024 season in Doha last weekend going into the last round in 6th place.
Meanwhile, Amna Al Qubaisi is driving for Visa Cash App Racing in the championship. The 24-year-old Emirati trailblazer has impressed fans and competitors alike, consistently showcasing her skill and determination on the track.
Looking ahead to their return to Yas Marina Circuit, Amna Al Qubaisi shared her excitement:
“I’ve been racing for 10 years now, I started in karting here at Yas Marina circuit, and I slowly developed from karting nationally, moving up to juniors, then seniors, and the next step was Formula 4. Being a Yas Heat ambassador has been great. Yas Heat has helped me develop my skills. They have taught me, coached me, provided me with the the appropriate insights. It is a program that is going to help young racers in karting move up the ladder.”
Red Bull Racing driver Hamda Al Qubaisi added: “Racing at Yas Marina Circuit is both nostalgic and empowering for us as Emirati women. Representing the UAE and Yas Heat Racing on a global stage has been an incredible opportunity, and we look forward to finishing the season on a high note by giving all we can for our teams, surrounded by friends and family.”
Formula 1 Academy joins a packed racing programme at Yas Marina Circuit during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, which also features the FIA Formula 2 season finale and the FIA Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round. Offering non-stop entertainment, the Abu Dhabi GP weekend kicks off on Thursday, 4 December, promising an unforgettable four-day celebration on Yas Island.
For more information, please visit: https://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/motorsports/yas-heat-racing
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2575428/Ethara_Amna_Qubaisi.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2575429/Ethara_Hamda_Qubaisi.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ethara-emirati-sisters-amna-and-hamda-al-qubaisi-return-to-yas-marina-circuit-for-f1-academy-season-finale-302325112.html
Fintech PR
The Hashgraph Association Pledges $1.5M to Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance
ZUG, Switzerland, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Hashgraph Association (THA), a Swiss innovation leader at the forefront of empowering a digital future for all, has committed $1.5 million to the Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance as a founding member. This collaboration aims to drive and fund groundbreaking research and innovation at the intersection of sustainability and digital finance.
The Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance, which brings together academic experts from Stanford University, the University of Zurich (UZH), and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) in South Korea, focuses on developing and accelerating research in sustainable digital finance with impact and training students and practitioners to foster innovation on a global scale. With THA’s committed funding, the Centre will expand its efforts to address global challenges in banking, ESG, financial inclusion, and climate finance.
The Hashgraph Association’s involvement extends beyond just funding. The organization will collaborate with the Centre to conceptualize and implement projects leveraging its cutting-edge Hedera DLT platform. Additionally, THA will equip 360 students annually with skills in mastering DLT using the Hedera Hashgraph platform, with over 2,160 students to be trained over the duration of the partnership, which is 6 years. It will also train 10 trainers equivalent to 60 trainers over this period. Participants will receive Hedera certifications in the form of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), adding a digital-first dimension to credentialing.
Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association, stated, “At The Hashgraph Association, we are proud to continue supporting organizations that deliver environmentally sustainable finance solutions in an innovative and compliant way. A recent environmental impact study by University College London (UCL) comparing different distributed ledger networks proved that Hedera is the world’s most sustainable network. The Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance fits perfectly into our Hedera Enablement Program, furthering THA’s efforts to expand research and development in Web3 and support sustainable initiatives.”
A recent survey of 37 UNDP country offices revealed that sustainable digital finance is a priority for many nations, yet only 40% have a digital finance strategy. THA’s partnership with the Global Centre for Sustainable Digital Finance aims to fill this gap by bridging digital finance and sustainability through innovative, education, impactful research and implementation.
Thomas Puschmann, Founder and Executive Director of Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance, states, “We are very pleased to be working with The Hashgraph Association. Sustainable digital finance has the potential to build inclusive, safe digital foundations, and technologies such as DLT, AI, and IoT, helping to increase transparency and reliability of information, especially in the climate financing domain. These foundations also aid in tackling corruption issues when funding SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) projects.”
The Hashgraph Association launched a $50 million Sustainability Venture Studio for enterprises earlier this year and has also partnered with Deloitte to enhance the verification of corporate ESG impact, reporting, and sustainability claims, leveraging the Hedera Guardian as the trusted balance sheet of the earth. Collaborating with Deloitte NL Risk Advisory B.V. in the Netherlands, this partnership focuses on enabling corporations to measure, track, report, and tokenize evidence-based ESG impact and sustainability claims on Hedera and ensuring a carbon-neutral future.
Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association is available for an interview upon request
About Global Center for Sustainable Finance
The financial system is currently being transformed by digitization and sustainability. However, existing knowledge on the topic of Sustainable Digital Finance, which bridges both areas, is still rare and a more comprehensive understanding of the domain is a missing component. The Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance focuses on this domain and aims to develop innovative approaches (research), accelerate those approaches (impact), and train students and practitioners to foster innovation on a global scale (education).
About The Hashgraph Association
The Hashgraph Association is at the forefront of the digital enablement and empowerment of organizations through the broad adoption of Hedera-powered enterprise-grade solutions and decentralized applications, which includes supporting and funding of training, innovation, and venture-building programs globally. As a non-profit organization headquartered in Switzerland, The Hashgraph Association provides funding for innovation, research, and development that enables economic inclusion and a digital future for all, with a positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2573640/THA_sustainable_digital_finance.jpg
For Media Enquiries:
Dustin Rotenberg, Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-hashgraph-association-pledges-1-5m-to-global-centre-for-sustainable-digital-finance-302325106.html
Fintech PR
Thomson Reuters named a Leader in 2024 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-enabled Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Enterprise
TORONTO, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Thomson Reuters (NYSE/TSX: TRI), a global content and technology company, today announced that it has been positioned as a Leader in two IDC MarketScape reports – IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled SaaS Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Enterprise 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52035324, December 2024), and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Value-Added Tax Management Applications 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52732824, December 2024).
“In today’s rapidly evolving global marketplace, tax compliance has become increasingly complex for multinational corporations. At Thomson Reuters, we’re committed to empowering our customers with cutting-edge technology that not only ensures compliance but also enhances their competitive edge,” said Ray Grove, head of Corporate Tax and Trade at Thomson Reuters.
“We believe our recognition as a Leader in both the enterprise SUT and VAT markets in this IDC MarketScape underscores our unwavering dedication to our customers’ success. Through our trusted ONESOURCE solutions, serving over 205 countries and territories, we continue to push the boundaries of innovation. Our vision is to create a seamlessly connected suite of global indirect tax calculation, reporting, and e-invoicing capabilities, providing best-in-class technology to enable our customers to navigate the complexities of tax compliance with confidence and agility.”
“Businesses of all sizes are grappling with an increasingly complex tax landscape, and they are turning to technology vendors for sophisticated tax automation solutions that seamlessly integrate, ensure compliance, and boost operational efficiency,” said Kevin Permenter, research manager at IDC. “Thomson Reuters has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation and customer success in the SaaS and cloud-enabled Value-Added Tax automation software market. Their ONESOURCE platform stands out for its comprehensive global coverage, robust integration capabilities, and advanced features powered by edge computing and AI. They are positioned well to address the evolving needs of businesses facing intricate tax compliance challenges across multiple jurisdictions.”
Pagero, part of Thomson Reuters, was also recently named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: European Compliant e-Invoicing 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #EUR151806424, September 2024). As a key part of Thomson Reuters e-invoicing offering, ONESOURCE Pagero supports businesses to accelerate growth with trusted, automated e-invoicing software that streamlines global compliance processes to unlock valuable business insights.
Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE offers comprehensive tax compliance solutions, including automated tax return preparation and filing for Sales and Use Tax and VAT. It integrates with major ERPs and provides tax determination and calculation for all transactions. ONESOURCE also features edge computing for faster, more controlled tax calculations. Recently, Thomson Reuters launched ONESOURCE with CoCounsel globally, integrating generative AI assistance. This enhanced solution combines a new AI Product Support skill with CoCounsel, Thomson Reuters professional-grade generative AI assistant that provides instant, natural-language answers drawn from Thomson Reuters trusted, proprietary content.
About IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (NYSE / TSX: TRI) (“TR”) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com.
Media contact
Kirsty Bennett
Director, Customer and Product PR
[email protected]
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2374577/Thomson_Reuters_Logo.jpg
-
Fintech4 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Introspective Market Research, Deel, Kingdom Advisors, Basta Pay)
-
Fintech3 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (21X, 9fin, Upstart, LendingClub, Cloudflare)
-
Fintech2 days ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Axos Bank, Global Trading Network, Fonepay, Compass Plus Technologies, Instacoins)
-
Fintech1 day ago
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Pennant Technologies, MogoPlus, Stash, Kennel Connection, RedRover)
-
Fintech PR7 days ago
ADGM’s Asset Management Sector Leads Exponential Growth in Third Quarter of 2024
-
Fintech2 days ago
Bety Unveils Enhanced Offer of 20,000+ Crypto Games and Sportsbook Events
-
Fintech4 days ago
EMGA arranges US$ 30M debt finance for Uzbekistan’s Ipak Yuli Bank
-
Fintech PR4 days ago
SynFutures Announces Foundation, F Token Airdrop, and Initial Exchange Listings