KUWAIT CITY, May 31: The Epidemics Control Unit at the Department of Public Health affiliated to the Ministry of Health is facing lot of obstacles and difficulties, reports Al-Kuwaitiah daily quoting reliable sources.

This is due to lack of manpower at the vaccination centers and non-availability of computer networks which could lead to the weakness of data analysis.

 This could also harm positive investigation procedures to help control the diseases and prevent the spread of epidemics according to recommendations laid down by the World Health Organization.
In light of this, it has been reported a letter has been addressed to Minister of Health Dr Ali Saad Al-Obeidi to find solution for those problems.

The Unit has also affirmed that it is suffering from financial difficulties to carry out training programs and other activities that can contribute to raise the scientific and practical awareness among workers.

Hurdle
In addition to this, the reports says lack of transportation and other technical issues is a hurdle to carry out investigative work in the field of infectious diseases which may lead to the spread of these diseases.
This is also in addition to the non-availability of enough support to make field studies and scientific researches in the domain of vaccinations and infectious diseases.

In another development, the Director of Medical Laboratories Dr Ibrahim Al-Maziri has announced that Virus Laboratory at the Adan Hospital in Ahmadi Health Area currently running on experimental basis will be fully operational within a month to serve patients, reports Al-Anba daily.

Dr Ibrahim added that outcome of the experimental operation has been positive and 100 percent success. He stressed that the lab has been established to provide quality service to patients in the hospital.

He also said the laboratory is the first of its kind in the health areas, and that similar laboratories will be built soon in the Farwaniya, Jahra, Sabah and Capital health areas. 

Laboratory
He also mentioned “these laboratories are built to reduce the burden on Public Health laboratories and to facilitate the doctors’ diagnosis”, adding the Central Virus Laboratory will be responsible for the technical supervision of all labs. He indicated the labs will be electronically linked with the central laboratory to confirm results, and “the process will facilitate better services.”

Meanwhile, Dr Ibrahim disclosed that the Yaqoub Behbehani Center for the Cultivation of Bone Marrow and Specialized Laboratories will be launched immediately after electricity has been connected to the premises.

He also said an electronic microscope will be installed at the Center to provide various kinds of laboratory services in Sabah Health Area and surrounding areas.

He noted the sector is also studying tenders to introduce electronic laboratory systems in the hospitals and medical centers affiliated to the Health Ministry. He reiterated the system is already available in laboratories at the Farwaniya, Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Amiri Hospitals.