KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: The Ministry of Health, represented by its Health Promotion Department, will conclude its annual campaign to raise awareness on the impact of climate change on health on Thursday at Sheikh Jaber Hospital. Director of the Health Promotion Department Dr. Abeer Al-Bahou said the campaign was launched on July 13 under the patronage of the health minister and in the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs Dr. Munther Al-Hasawi.

The campaign aims to raise awareness on the dangers of climate change and its impact on individual and community health, as well as how to cope with climate change to prevent high temperatures and avoid heatstroke on hot days. In a statement to the newspaper, Al-Bahou disclosed that the campaign includes numerous activities to raise public awareness about following the necessary first aid guidelines for heatstroke, such as rapid cooling, drinking water, and transporting the injured person. She enumerated many symptoms of heatstroke, like high body temperature, dizziness, headache, vomiting, skin redness and burns, fatigue, shortness of breath, and increased heart rate.

She explained that preventing sunstroke requires a great deal of awareness about the importance of avoiding going out during peak hours (11:00 am to 4:00 pm), staying under the shade, wearing sunglasses, using an umbrella, and applying sunscreen. She added that studies emphasize the importance of addressing climate change through renewable energy and sustainable practices, stressing the need for urgent and coordinated action at the global, national, and individual levels to understand the causes and effects of climate change and implement solutions.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff