Dr Abdul Rahman constant advocator of preventive medicine

Environmentalist carried out many programs and activities on a national scale

This is the third in a series of articles on Dr Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Awadhi, physician, four times minister, writer and environmentalist.

TBy Lidia Qattan

hroughout the years of his active involvement in the health service Dr Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi has been a constant advocator of preventive medicine.

In 1979 and 1986 he was President of the International Commission for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency; he has been championing the cause ever since.

In 1982 he became the VicePresident of the International Council on Alcohol and addiction, as well as President of the Medical Foundation of Dr Nassib Berbir in Beirut, Lebanon.

During the same period Dr Abdul Rahman was the chairman of the WHO committee of experts on smoking control strategies in developing countries.

From 1983 to 1987 Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi was Minister of Public Health and Minister of Planning.

In 1983 he became member of the WHO expert advisory panel and public health administration of which he still holds the membership.

The preservation of the environment has always been his greatest concern. As Minister of Planning for the term 1987-1990, in order to strengthen the role of environmental development, Dr Abdul Rahman carried out many programs and activities on a national scale. He also took part in establishing the Arab Ministerial Council of Environment, and took part in the numerous Ministerial Council meetings and conferences, related to the development of environmental policies within the region and in the Arab world.

At the UNEP Governing Council meetings he was the Head of the Kuwaiti delegation.

Supervising

On July 28, 1990 Dr Abdul Rahman was in Lebanon supervising on the redecoration of his house, when he was called to Egypt to attend the conference of Islamic Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Cairo.

At that time his mother was with him in Lebanon, his wife was in London on vacation with three of her children, his elder son was in the States studying and one of his boys was still in Kuwait for his school examinations.

When the Iraqis invaded Kuwait, although appalled by the stormy event Dr Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi was not too surprised, for, the latest developments with the Iraqi regime were pointing to a critical phase.

For sometime he and his colleagues had been on the alert

Lidia Qattan

feeling something was about to happen.

During the last week preceding the invasion a “Hot Line” of communication was kept open for any emergency. When in the early hours of the second of August he received a call informing him that the Iraqi troops had penetrated the Northern frontiers and were rapidly advancing towards Kuwait City, though he thought of his boy alone at home and of his brothers and sisters in the country, he tried to keep a clear mind on the whole situation and think what had to be done in such circumstances.

The Iraqi surprise attack was well planned to take place in the blistering heat of summer when most officials were on leave hence easier for the invaders to disrupt the whole administrative system.

Alert to the danger of such a situation Dr. Abdul Rahman wasted no time in organizing a plan of action to save his country. But even for a man of his energy and stamina the new situation proved to be the toughest trial he had to face; for he had to fight the indolence and hesitations of his colleagues who were creating more problems than they were trying to solve.

The Iraqi propaganda had been working for years to create an image of credibility and power in the Arabian world and on a global scale; at the time of the invasion it had completely overshadowed Kuwait with its allegations which the world accepted as legitimate.

Abdul Rahman’s first action was to establish a unit for supporting the Kuwait Government in Saudi Arabia. From the first day and all through the ordeal he was in close contact with the Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed and the Prime Minister, Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salem.

By granting freedom of talk and action the Egyptian Government was of great moral help, making possible for Dr. Abdul Rahman and his colleagues to organize a working plan that set in motion the liberation campaign.

Starting from scratch and working fast in order to gain a point of advantage in making the voice of Kuwait heard abroad, Dr Abdul Rahman and his team were able to gain the interest of the world in the cause of their country in a comparatively short time.

Involved

For everyone involved it was a hard struggle, for Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi in particular it was an assiduous activity during which he hardly had a chance to rest, for even when after a long day of meetings he went to sleep, he was often awaken to face a new situation.

Officially appointed Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Abdul Rahman carried-on his duty almost too heroic endurance; he practically had to be on the job twenty-four hours a day, seven days of the week though all those seven months of invasion.

Most of the time was spent on travel, meeting with foreign governments, making arrangements and carrying-out press conferences on a global scale.

Beginning from the morning of the 2nd of August 1990, Dr Abdul Rahman was active in his ministerial role, representing his government meeting first with the Ministries of foreign affairs of the Arab League, then with the Islamic Ministers for foreign affairs ,and finally with the Gulf Representative Council.

All through those meetings he was trying hard to win support, pleading the cause of his country, condemning the Iraqi aggression.

In between meetings he also had to talk to the press, meet the representatives of press agencies and journalists from all over the world crowding on him for information on the latest developments.

It was a strain Dr Abdul Rahman had to keep up with, because it was extremely important to reveal to the world the true fact of the Iraqi aggression in order to gain support.

During the first week alone he met with no less than 90 agencies of the world media.

There was no time for relaxation or take things easily; pressing problems were rising at every turn and had to be dealt quickly and effectively.

In the midst of his commitments Dr Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi had also to deal with the pedantry and hesitation of those around him. It was then that he was yearning the warm comfort of his family, especially the moral support of his lady,

Dr Sadika, who was doing her part in the noble cause of her country, attending to her patients in London was a full time task often stretching into the night. His mother was in London with her.

Incidentally his house in Kuwait was one of the first to be taken over by the Iraqis. Taraq Aziz, the Iraqi foreign minister took possession of the house, therefore the son of Dr Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi had to take refuge in the house of one of his uncles, who was able to take him abroad one week later.

When the Iraqis took over the house and found on his desk some of the gifts from Saddam Hussein along with his photo, seeing the image of their leader was enough to command respect for the place itself; nothings was touched, even Dr Abdul Rahman and his whole family was held with respect by the National Guards.

To be continued