'Protocols allocated to stop spread of contagious diseases in hospitals'

(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY Feb 13: Assistant Under-secretary for Medical Service Affairs at Ministry of Health Dr Jamal Al-Harbi affirmed that the ministry has allotted protocols for preventing the spread of contagious diseases in hospitals and these protocols have been circulated to all private and public hospitals reports Aljarida daily. On the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the first 'safe healthcare' conference he revealed that the protocols include the vaccination of all medical workers in the preventive healthcare centers from contagious diseases adding 'The health workers in the preventive healthcare centers have been given three doses of Hepatitis B vaccines that will fully protect them from contracting this disease'. Dr Al-Harbi stressed the importance of the conference as ways to improve health of patients and medical workers in line with the latest developments in the medical field by holding local and international seminars and conferences and by implementing prevention policies and protocols will be discussed during the conference. He indicated that such discussions are essential in the health system particularly for providing good quality medical services in hospitals primary healthcare centers and all specialized clinics in both public and private health sectors.

Prevention
Dr Al-Harbi affirmed the keenness of the Department of Epidemic Diseases Prevention to follow up global developments formulate plans and organize health seminars reiterating that the conference aims to highlight the dangers of contracting diseases faced by health workers and discuss the available solutions for dealing with such dangers and implementing the latest recommendations of safe healthcare in hospitals and medical centers. Deputy Director of Chest Diseases Hospital Dr Hani Al- Mutairi said heart diseases are considered the number one cause of death in Kuwait and the globe around 25 to 30 percent in the Kuwaiti society.

He disclosed the number of men with heart problems is double of that of women internationally but in Kuwait the number of women with heart diseases is slightly higher than that of men due to lack of movement in addition to eating food rich in starch and fat. In a press conference held by the Ministry of Health to launch the sixth 'People with Hearts' Marathon which will be organized by the Chest Diseases Hospital on Saturday with about 1500 participants from various age groups Al-Mutairi pointed out most heart diseases are acquired about 30 percent of the society had been diagnosed with this. He said other cases are hereditary but these are very rare not more than five percent in Kuwait and usually appear at the early stage of childbirth.

Meanwhile Assistant Undersecretary for Administration Affairs in the hospital Ahmad Al- Hajiri confirmed the patients their relatives and the hospital's employees are given an opportunity to participate in this annual event. He asserted the hospital's administration is keen on hosting the marathon annually to encourage people to engage in sports and make it an important aspect of everyone's lives in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.