Kuwait- 'Marriage within kin is normal in society' 

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Director of Social Health Department at the Ministry of Health Dr Yacoub Al-Kandari was recently quoted as saying marriages among relatives according to applicable customs and traditions in the Kuwaiti society is normal, reports Al-Anba daily.

He pointed out Kuwaiti families are keen on such marriages and they wish their sons and daughters will keep up the social tradition.

In a press release, Al-Kandari pointed out it is remarkable that during pre-marriage medical examination it was discovered there was a less than two percent chance of contracting hereditary diseases.

He went on to say pre-marriage medical examination plays an important role in discovering these cases.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health plans to install what it calls the automated warning system to warn pharmacies and clinics at government hospitals that they are about to run out of drugs and medicines, reports Al-Anba daily.

The daily added the pharmacies network will be linked to the Department of Information Systems at the Ministry of Health.

In another development, stress is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction (ED), which affects the urinary and reproductive organs, in addition to smoking and diabetes, says Urology Consultant at the Faculty of Medicine in Kuwait University Dr Ahmad Al-Kandari.

Al-Kandari explained although ED is linked to the age of the patient, those below 40 years old can also suffer from this illness due to stress and this negatively affects the relationship of couples. He said the best treatment so far is the use of advanced prosthetic devices, adding that 95 percent of those who underwent the treatment have expressed satisfaction over the results.