KUWAIT CITY, July 11: The Kuwait Poison Control Center has significantly enhanced specialized preventive and therapeutic services in the country, successfully managing 3,870 poisoning cases since its establishment in May 2023. Affiliated with the Emergency Departments Council, it stands as the first center dedicated to monitoring and treating poisoning cases.

During a recent tour by Al-Rai, Dr. Fatima Al-Kandari, Head of the Emergency Departments Council, highlighted the center's substantial progress in handling poisoning cases across Ministry of Health facilities. Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Aoumi, Head of the Center, detailed the center’s achievements after 13 months of operation, emphasizing its role in providing expert advice and treatment plans through a dedicated call center staffed by national specialists—doctors, pharmacists, and nurses available around the clock, including holidays.

The center’s responsibilities include devising treatment plans for medical teams across health regions, offering public guidance on poison exposure, and coordinating the procurement of antidotes with medical warehouses. It conducts crucial laboratory tests and analyses in collaboration with the Laboratory Departments Council and provides advisory support to state agencies upon request.

Dr. Al-Aoumi underscored the center's pioneering role in following up on poisoning cases, offering specialized advice and treatment plans, monitoring toxic substances, and collaborating with relevant state institutions to conduct comprehensive studies on poisoning cases. He noted the center’s focus on diverse types of poisons, including medications, chemicals, toxins, and venomous bites, with a significant incidence among young children under six years old.

Highlighting specific statistics from 2023, Dr. Al-Aoumi pointed out that medication misuse was the leading cause of poisoning cases, accounting for 61.38%, followed by household cleaning materials at 9.09% and cosmetics at 4.11%. He also detailed incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning and bites from scorpions, snakes, and marine creatures.

The center’s contributions extend beyond Kuwait, involving collaboration with international bodies such as the World Health Organization and regional toxicology centers in GCC countries. It has conducted 12 scientific research studies published in prestigious international journals, earning recognition for outstanding scientific contributions.

Training initiatives for Ministry of Health personnel, including pharmacists and doctors, are integral to the center’s mission, ensuring high-quality emergency response and ongoing education for medical professionals and the general public.

For emergencies and advice, the Kuwait Poison Control Center operates a 24/7 hotline at 1804774, serving institutions and individuals nationwide.