Kuwait Health Minister launches World Sight Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 12: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi launched World Sight Day activities at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital on Monday to raise public awareness of the importance of prevention through early screening. Hospital Director Dr Nada Al- Hassan told KUNA that the hospital was committed to screening programs and early detection of common diseases, reducing treatment burdens and health complications. She said the event featured vision tests, eye pressure measurements and fundus examinations, supervised by specialized medical staff from the ophthalmology department, headed by Dr. Ahmad Al-Foudari. The initiative highlighted eye health and the importance of early detection of vision problems.

The hospital has scheduled several awareness activities this week, including early breast cancer screening on Wednesday, a World Rheumatism Day event on Thursday, and other activities addressing psoriasis. Al-Hassan stressed that healthcare extends beyond treatment in clinics to proactive prevention and encouraging regular checkups to prevent diseases from progressing. For his part, Dr. Ahmad Al- Foudari, head of the hospital’s ophthalmology department and chairman of the Ministry of Health’s ophthalmology departments, said the ministry was committed to comprehensive healthcare and community responsibility through campaigns for early detection of common eye diseases. He said eye care services were available across Kuwait’s governorates through most primary healthcare centers and public hospitals. Screening campaigns aim to detect vision problems early through advanced tests measuring visual acuity and eye pressure to identify glaucoma, which often has no clear symptoms in its early stages.

Al-Foudari stressed the importance of regular examinations, particularly for people over 40. He said the ministry had introduced modern retinal imaging and fundus examination equipment that eliminates the need for dilating drops, which can cause discomfort. Early detection of retinal disorders helps limit complications. He also announced a project to electronically link screening cameras at health centers, enabling faster delivery of results to ophthalmologists and shorter referral and appointment waiting times. An awareness event on keratoconus and its treatment is scheduled for November (KUNA)