Speaker hails Ministry of Health efforts

KUWAIT CITY, March 1: National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim has reaffirmed the cancellation of the special session slated for Monday to discuss the latest developments regarding coronavirus and the enforcement of relevant procedures.

Al-Ghanim reiterated that instead of the special parliamentary session, the Secretariat General of the Assembly will hold a meeting on a yet to be specified date, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and other concerned institutions.

He thanked the Ministry of Health for the tremendous efforts it is exerting to deal with the virus. He praised the ministry’s media campaign to raise public awareness on ways to protect oneself from the virus.

The campaign was also conducted at the Assembly building where a number of nurses and employees provided the required equipment and presented videos on the proper behaviors under such circumstances.

On the other hand, MP Adnan Abdulsamad stressed in a press statement that rumors about some people’s attempt to interfere and impede procedures enforced by the Ministry of Health at the quarantine area are groundless.

He said such lies are aimed at weakening national unity. He revealed some citizens have complained that they suffered in the quarantine area as they were asked to stay in the buses for several hours after a long flight from Iran, while others said their blood samples have not been taken until now. He added this could be due to the remarkable increase in the Ministry of Health’s workload, especially in dealing with logistic and administrative issues. He suggested assigning non-medical tasks to other institutions and seeking assistance from civil society organizations, which had earlier announced their readiness to volunteer.

He said the utmost level of commitment to national unity is badly needed this time, similar to how the country triumphed over the Iraqi invasion and its repercussions. Meanwhile, MP Muhammad Al-Dallal submitted queries to Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalid Al-Rawdan about the plan and procedures in handling commercial issues, especially those related to consumer protection and regulating pharmacies in such conditions.

He wants to know the ministry’s basis in specifying the prices of face masks and its role in coordinating with the private sector to support the efforts of the government. MP Majid Al-Mutairi asked the government to prepare an evacuation plan for Kuwaitis studying in Egypt in case of a coronavirus outbreak there.

He pointed out there has been information on the discovery of coronavirus in Egypt, so HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid should issue a directive to prepare an evacuation plan in case the situation gets worse.

In another development, MP Riyad Al-Adasani commented on the resignation of Minister of Electricity and Water Muhammad Bu Shehri, stressing that he will follow up issues included in the grilling. He added the incoming minister must solve these issues; otherwise, he will bear the consequent political responsibility.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff