No case of Ebola recorded in Kuwait, affirms Al-Obaidi

WHO’s meet key to people’s well-being

TUNIS, Oct 19, ( KUNA): Kuwait is Ebola-free as no single case of the virus has been recorded in the country, Minister of Health Ali Saad Al-Obaidi told KUNA here on Sunday.

Al-Obaidi made the statement on the sidelines of the 61st session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean that opens in Tunisia later today.

Ebola outbreak will feature high on the WHO ministerial event, amid a range of important health issues representing priorities for the countries of the region.

Strict anti-Ebola precautions have been taken in Kuwait, through collaboration among relevant state bodies, especially the ministries of health and interior, at the behest of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Minister said.

This is done through the application of stringent measures at border outlets, as well as the relevant international health recommendations, he added.

Al-Obaidi said Saturday the meeting of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, was important because it would further contribute to the well-being of people.

Speaking to KUNA after arrival in Tunis for the meeting, Al-Obaidi said the participants in the meeting would discuss eradication of polio, which Kuwait succeeded in eliminating in 1986.

He said Kuwait would be talking about its own experience in confronting chronic diseases.

Al-Obaidi said Dr Khaled Al-Saleh from Kuwait would be honored by WHO for winning an international prize in the treatment of cancer, heart diseases and diabetes.

The meeting, he added, would touch upon role of primary health care, strategies related to health of mothers and children, cutting mortal- ity rate among mothers and children.

Al-Obaidi said the participants would also discuss feeding of infants and boosting capabilities of health authorities to confront emergencies and disasters.