Al-Harbi says coop among govt, private health sectors essential

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 18, (KUNA): Health Minister Dr Jamal Al-Harbi said Sunday that joint cooperation among health sectors in the country, both state and private, is essential for providing imporved health services for the people, particularly those with special needs.

The ministry is keen on empowering the disabled and utilizing their potentials and capabilities so they could lead their lives normally, Dr. Majed Al-Qattan said in a speech, on behalf of Al- Harbi, at the opening of “Your life in your health .. Your health in your food” forum and exhibition for the disabled. The two-day forum aims at raising public awareness about important food sources and daily nutrients intake to provide full health benefits for those with special needs, he noted. The ministry also spares no effort in supporting national projects that contribute to helping and serving the citizens and residents, especially the disabled, he said, adding the Kuwait was one of the first Arab countries to implement the food safety system in 2000.

Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti, official spokesman for the health ministry, told reporters, on the sidelines of the forum, that the private health sector completes the march of its state counterpart in enhancing the health and medical services in Kuwait.

There are around 150,000 disabled persons in Kuwait compared to 12.5 million in the United States, and 340 million around the world, Al-Shatti noted, adding that Kuwait always attempts to dry up roosts of disability through medical checkups prior to marriage, in addition to conducting intensified awareness campaigns to eliminate diseases and road accidents.

Meanwhile, Kuwait is the only Arab country that directly designates Ministry of Health to provide health care in places of detention, said Coordinator of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) protection department Ralph Wehbe on Sunday. Wehbe in statement during the second GCC workshop on health care in detention held recently in Kuwait praised the unique and leading experience of Kuwait in this regard.

The ICRC is carrying out its own activities in places of detention in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, under bilateral agreements with the relevant authorities, pointing out that it has been working in Kuwait since the Gulf War (1990-1991). He also said that the ICRC’s regional delegation covers the needs of the GCC countries resulting from war, armed conflicts and ongoing violence in the region. For his part, Dr Feras Abu Samra, a doctor in charge of health in detention at the ICRC said the workshop aims to exchange experiences and discuss common challenges in dealing with some issues related to psychological health in detention, adding that this workshop came after the first workshop which was held in Kuwait in Nov 2014.

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