KUWAIT CITY, Oct 31: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has implemented decisive measures to prevent diseases and cancers linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) by improving access to vaccines and enhancing community awareness, a Kuwaiti health official stated on Wednesday.

Dr. Fahad Al-Ghamlas, Director of the Preventive Health Department and Chairman of the Second Kuwait Public Health Conference, made this announcement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the two-day conference focused on "Public Health Challenges... Proposed Solutions." The conference aimed to address critical issues affecting individual and societal health.

Dr. Al-Ghamlas noted that conference participants emphasized the significance of the HPV vaccination campaign in raising awareness and preventing the virus, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to improve public health.

He also pointed out that discussions at the conference underscored the necessity of staying informed about developments related to emerging and recurring diseases to prevent epidemic outbreaks and formulate actionable recommendations.

Moreover, the discussions stressed the value of data from integrated surveillance systems for respiratory diseases in guiding public health decisions at national, regional, and global levels. This approach facilitates early detection and rapid response to emerging respiratory viruses, including potential threats.

Dr. Al-Ghamlas further explained that the conference highlighted the need for public health policies and programs to consider climate change, as they are crucial for protecting the health and wellbeing of all populations, particularly the most vulnerable. He mentioned that Kuwait is working towards building a resilient health system capable of addressing the health impacts of climate change, which requires enhancing cooperation and developing effective capacities.

The conference participants also emphasized the importance of disease surveillance and early warning systems in understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on public health. Additionally, they called for continued and improved coordination between the Ministry's Public Health Department and the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources to swiftly report any occurrences of diseases common to humans and animals.