KUWAIT CITY, Nov 20: The Director of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Zone Dr. Walid Al-Busairi affirmed the interest of the Ministry of Health, particularly the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Zone, to care for patients with chronic diseases, especially those suffering from diabetes, by providing early detection and treatment services for this disease, and developing a strategy to expand these services in primary healthcare centers in the area.

In a special press statement issued yesterday on the sidelines of West Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Center’s celebration of World Diabetes Day, Dr. Al-Busairi said, “Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Zone has 16 primary health care centers, and all centers have one or more clinics for diabetes care. However, what distinguishes Adan Health Center from other centers is the provision of early diabetes detection services.

Early diabetes detection clinics contribute to identifying risk groups and placing them under a comprehensive nutritional treatment program for follow-up and identifying the first signs of the disease and how to prevent it.

This is a service that the area seeks to expand to include all primary health care centers in the region because early detection is of great importance in preventing diabetes complications, which sometimes lead to loss of sight and limbs as a result of neglecting treatment."

She praised the head of the West Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Center Dr. Maryam Al-Qattan, in the presence of the Governor of Mubarak Al-Kabeer ret. Major General Mahmoud Boushahri, the Director of the Department of Prevention and Response to Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Dr. Hamoud Al-Zoubi, Head of the Primary Health Care Unit in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Health Zone Dr. Basma Al-Qallaf, and the heads of health centers and technical departments in the area.

She explained that the incidence of diabetes in Kuwait exceeded 25 percent of the total number of Kuwaitis. Preventing it and its complications has become a major factor in improving the quality of health and psychological life for the individual and society. This happens especially with the continuous rise in infection rates to the extent that it has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, which may lead to severe complications in body functions, such as diabetic foot, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, problems with the mouth, gums, teeth, and skin diseases.

Dr. Busairi stressed the possibility of preventing and overcoming these complications by committing to regular check-ups and following a healthy lifestyle based on eating healthy foods, exercising, and maintaining an ideal weight.

She highlighted the active participation of the administrative and technical departments of primary healthcare at the center, which include the Diabetes and Chronic Diseases Department, Family Medicine Department, Dentistry Department, Laboratory Department, Pharmacy Department, Nursing Department, Therapeutic Nutrition Department, the Administrative Department and a number of sponsoring companies.

Dr. Al-Busairi also highlighted the participation of work teams from the departments of prevention and response to chronic non-communicable diseases and medical emergencies to provide consultations and medical advice to patients about the importance of periodic check-ups, treatment, and follow-ups to avoid complications of the disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle, ways to provide immediate resuscitation and the importance of training to save lives.

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