Ministry of Health launches campaign to raise awareness about non-communicable chronic diseases

The Ministry of Health, represented by the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, launched the National Campaign for Awareness of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases and Early Detection at The Avenues Mall. The campaign will run throughout October at several primary healthcare centers and will conclude on October 29 at the Ministry’s General Secretariat.

Dr. Wafaa Al-Kandari, Director of the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, told KUNA that the campaign aligns with national development and strategic plans to enhance public health. She noted that the campaign focuses on raising awareness about heart and vascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, which are the leading causes of death locally and globally. She emphasized that addressing risk factors directly contributes to preventing illness and avoiding premature death.

Dr. Al-Kandari explained that the campaign kicked off at The Avenues Mall and will continue throughout the month at various primary healthcare centers according to an approved schedule, which will be published via the Ministry’s platforms. She highlighted that the core objective is to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce risky behaviors such as smoking, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and obesity.

She praised the broad partnership that contributed to the success of the event, involving the Health Promotion, Primary Care, School Health, and Physical Therapy departments, as well as academic participation from the College of Public Health, including its students and staff. Civil society organizations, including the Kuwait Heart Association and the National Campaign for Cancer Awareness, also participated.

For her part, Dr. Lamia Al-Arjadi, Senior Public Health Specialist at the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, told KUNA in a similar statement that the campaign’s opening aims primarily to improve the quality and standards of healthy living in the country, provide the public with reliable medical information, and intensify early detection programs for non-communicable diseases. She noted that the campaign’s message is “Your Health Starts with a Step,” to promote proactive prevention.