Health Ministry opens 'Travelers' Health' clinic at Salwa Specialized Center

The Preventive Health Services Department in the Hawalli Health Region inaugurated the “Travel Health Clinic” at the Salwa Specialty Center.

Dr. Maryam Mansouri, Head of the Public Health Services Department in the Hawalli Health Region, emphasized that the clinic’s opening is part of efforts to develop and expand preventive services provided to citizens and residents, and to strengthen the concept of health preparedness for travel. She noted that travel medicine is not limited to vaccinations; it is based on individualized health risk assessments tailored to the travel destination, duration, nature of the trip, and the traveler’s health status, followed by the provision of appropriate vaccinations, guidance, and preventive measures.

She explained that the clinic offers pre-travel health assessments and consultations, reviews required and recommended vaccinations according to the destination, and raises awareness about preventing travel-related diseases, including vector-borne diseases, food- and waterborne illnesses, and respiratory infections. Additionally, it provides guidance on medications during travel and addresses the needs of special populations requiring specific evaluations.

Mansouri added that the importance of travel medicine services is growing amid increasing travel volumes and diverse destinations, stressing that “each traveler and each journey requires a different health assessment, and health preparedness for a trip should begin well in advance of departure.”

She concluded by reaffirming that the core message behind launching the service is to make health an essential component of travel planning, adding:

“Just as travelers ensure they have their passports, tickets, and travel plans ready, we want them to include their health among their preparations as well. Our goal is for them to begin their journeys with awareness and readiness, and to return to Kuwait in good health and safety.”