A1SaudiArabia.com

BURAIDAH – The Ministry of Health has warned all its officials at health directorates and hospitals across the country not to use foreign workers, who are employed by the government, for private jobs.

Those who violate this order will be questioned and disciplined, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministrys warning comes in the wake of its internal control and auditing administration uncovering such offenses.

Read More

ISLAMABAD – A Saudi medical team airplane landed here Tuesday to operate the field hospital which was built in accordance with the directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to provide assistance to the flood-hit people.
The team was received by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdulaziz Bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadir, Director General of Emergency and Field Medicine Committee in the Ministry of Health Tariq Al-Arnus and a number of military officials from Saudi Armed Forces’ Medical Service.
Both, Saudi Embassy in Islamabad and Consulate General in Karachi are working round-the-clock to serve the affected and provide them with aid and assistance in accordance with the directives of the Saudi government, the ambassador said. – SPA

DAMMAM – A unified approach involving parents, schools, government agencies, and sports organizations to address the problem of obesity among Saudi children was launched here by the Saudi Diabetes & Endocrine Association (SDEA).
The launch was spearheaded by Professor Abdulaziz Al-Mulhim, head of the SDEA scientific committee. Addressing the Ramadan meeting of SDEA, which was attended by parents, schoolteachers, government representatives and managers of sports clubs, Al-Mulhim said a concerted drive to arrest the problem of child obesity should now be taken seriously.
“We have to invest our time and resources for the benefit of our children’s health and wellness by addressing the problem of obesity which has now created many health, social, psychological and economic problems,” Al-Mulhim said. He said the Kingdom already has a growing number of obese adults, stressing that the next generation should be healthy and not follow in the footsteps of those who are already overweight.
Al-Mulhim said parents are the “first line of offense” in instituting a wellness regime for their children. “It is a simple matter of adopting a healthier lifestyle and diet with moderate exercise, and at the same time being a role model for your children to follow,” he said.
“Our culture of filling our children’s plates with lots of food and insisting that they have to finish it all does not lead to a moderate and balanced diet for our children. Parents should consider this point seriously,” Al-Mulhim said.
He said parents should also discourage their children from watching television and at the same time eating snacks and junk food. He added that parents should limit the amount of time their children watch TV.
School teachers play a major role in preventing obesity among Saudi youngsters, Al-Mulhim said. “All Saudi schools must make children aware of the negative aspects of obesity and educate children about advertisements that encourage the over consumption of fatty and sugary food and drinks.”
School canteens should always make available safe, low-fat food items, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, yogurt, and whole wheat bread, he stressed.
Al-Mulhim said parents and teachers should refer children who are obese to doctors and family physicians. “I advise parents to consult physicians once they have noticed that their children’s weight has increased, and not to wait too long to do so,” he said.
All sports clubs and recreational facilities across the Kingdom should find ways to encourage children to exercise, such as by providing them with reduced prices for engaging in sports and athletic activities. He said government participation is crucial in addressing the problem of obesity among children, adding that government institutions, including those in health services, education, and sports should closely collaborate with the private sector and other non-government agencies to fight child obesity. – SG
A study conducted by Dr. Khaled A. Madani, Consultant Nutritionist at the Directorate of Health Affairs in the
Ministry of Health, revealed an increase in obesity among Saudi youngsters including children less than six years of age, an indication that those prone to obesity are getting younger. – SG

JEDDAH – The number of diabetic patients in the Kingdom has increased from 2.5 percent in the eighties to 14 percent, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, said Prof. Abdulrahman Al-Shaikh, head of the Saudi Endocrine and Diabetes Association.

He said that one of the most important aims of treating diabetes is to prevent complications like kidney failure, heart and brain embolisms, and blindness.

Read More

JEDDAH: It is true that after a long day of fasting and partaking of the iftar one can usually feel weak and in need of a long nap, but to get around this many youths in the Kingdom have turned to taking energy drinks to break their fasts in order to give them a boost to enjoy Ramadan nightly activities and to stay up until the pre-dawn suhur.

“I prefer an energy drink after I have eaten my iftar meal,” said 22-year-old Saudi Afnan Labban. “It gives me a pick-me-up to go shopping and to enjoy other Ramadan activities with my family and friends.”

Read More

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health launched the “Hello Ramadan” health program during the first week of the holy month to help Muslims receive health information from their homes and offices by phone or fax.

“The program is being carried out for the sixth year in succession and we are continuing this program because of its popularity among citizens and expatriates,” an official from the Health Awareness Information Center (HAIC) at the Ministry of Health told Arab News Saturday.

Read More

RIYADH – The King Fahd Medical City blood donation drive conducted by its mobile blood bank has continued during Ramadan, although the number of donors has dropped substantially, according to a KFMC official.

The mobile blood bank vehicle was stationed at Rawabi Park during the first week of Ramadan between 9:30 P.M. and 1:30 A.M. and received about 16 blood donors daily, said Abdul Majeed, KFMC Blood Bank Coordinator.

Read More

JEDDAH – About 250 volunteer female doctors and nurses and other medical specialists are providing first-aid work in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Dr. Abrar Thabit, a clinical pharmacist and head of the team, said the group working under the Saudi Red Crescent Authority is made up of doctors, pharmacists, nurses and students in medical specializations.
 The team started its work with the beginning of Ramadan and will work until the end of the holy month, said Dr. Thabit, who added that the number of volunteers has increased more than six times since program started in 2004.
 Dr. Thabit pointed out that the Saudi Red Crescent Authority has provided equipment to support teams, which operate in several locations in the women’s prayer areas.
 “The team’s work focuses on the weekends and it will double its efforts during the last ten days of Ramadan, which is the peak period, when the number of visitors to the Grand Mosque increases,” she said.
“The team will be ready to administer first aid, with equipment for measuring vital body functions, oxygen masks and medicine provided by the Ministry of Health.”
 The team is set up to ensure that each site has the appropriate medical personnel and equipment, she said.
 “The team members are sent to several locations and every site has a female doctor and a pharmacist who are equipped to provide first aid to emergency cases at these locations and the surrounding areas. Work starts after Asr, which is around 4 P.M. and ends after Taraweeh prayer. On odd-numbered nights during the last 10 days of Ramadan, the team’s work will continue until the end of Tahajjud prayer.”
 Volunteers must meet several conditions before they are approved to work on the team, Dr. Thabit said. 
“Female doctors, pharmacists and nurses are accepted provided they work full-time during the time they are required to participate,” she said.
“Female students of health specializations are accepted if they have a license in cardiac-lung resuscitation and approval from their guardians. Priority is given to those in the advanced stages of their studies. Also, all volunteers must attend the introductory meeting for the team, which is held annually in Makkah and Jeddah before starting field work for the team in Ramadan.”
 Dr. Thabit wants to attract more people to help and expand the team’s services in the years ahead.  “Until now, the team has provided first-aid services at 11 locations in the women’s prayer areas at the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” she said.
“We are looking forward to increase the number of our locations to cover as many of the women’s prayer areas in the Grand Mosque as possible. We hope to increase the number of volunteering women doctors who work in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine and other specializations.” 
Dr. Thabit said she did not anticipate creating a year-round volunteer team in the Grand Mosque.
 “The basic work of the team is to provide field service during the peak period when movement is difficult and almost stops, the way it occurs in Ramadan,” she said.
“Other than this, the health services provided by the five health centers belonging to the Ministry of Health that are distributed in the Makkan Haram is sufficient. They work throughout the year in providing health services to the guests of Allah.” – Okaz/SG

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health is implementing an integrated health plan for Umrah pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan, according to Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.

“During the holy month, we are implementing a special health plan in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to provide preventive and curative services to the pilgrims who patronize these two cities,” Al-Rabeeah said in a statement issued on Saturday.

He pointed out that the Makkah has established a number of health and first aid centers in and outside the Grand Mosque.

Read More

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health announced in a statement issued on Saturday that swine flu is no longer a threat to public health in the Kingdom.

The statement said official figures “showed a sharp drop in the infection figures from around 17,000 cases – 124 of which were fatal – in 2009 to only 875 infection cases so far this year.”

The infections that have been diagnosed this year have been mild and scattered, the statement pointed out.

Read More