Director of the Department of Public Health and Chair of the Conference Dr. Fahad Al-Ghamlas

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

Dr. Fahad Al-Ghamlas, Director of the Department of Preventive Health 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 importance of the HPV vaccination campaign in raising awareness and preventing the virus, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to improve public health.

He also pointed out that the discussions at the conference emphasized the need to stay informed about developments related to emerging and re-emerging diseases in order to prevent epidemic outbreaks and formulate actionable recommendations.

In addition, discussions highlighted the value of data from integrated respiratory disease surveillance systems 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 take climate change into account as it is crucial to protecting the health and well-being of all populations, especially the most vulnerable. He noted that Kuwait is working to build a resilient health system capable of addressing the health impacts of climate change, which requires strengthening cooperation and developing effective capacities.

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. In addition, they called for continued and improved coordination between the Ministry’s Public Health Department and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources to quickly report any outbreaks of diseases common to humans and animals.