'Health' launches national campaign for chronic disease awareness and early detection
The Ministry of Health has launched a national campaign for the early detection of chronic diseases at primary healthcare centers.
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
- Focus on heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases
The Ministry of Health, represented by the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, launched today, Monday, 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 the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the campaign aligns with developmental and strategic plans to enhance public health.
Al-Kandari noted that the focus is on raising awareness about heart and vascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, as they are the leading causes of death locally and globally. She emphasized that addressing risk factors directly contributes to preventing illness and avoiding premature death.
She 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 published via the Ministry’s platforms. She pointed out that the core objective is to solidify healthy lifestyles and reduce risky behaviors such as smoking, unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity.
Al-Kandari praised the broad partnership that ensured 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 with its students and staff, alongside civil society organizations such as the Kuwait Heart Association and the National Campaign for Cancer Awareness (KANC).
For her part, Dr. Lamea Al-Aradi, Senior Public Health Specialist at the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, stated in a similar remark to KUNA that the campaign’s opening aims primarily to improve the quality and standard 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.
Al-Aradi clarified that 15 entities, both within and outside the Ministry, are participating in the campaign, including the World Health Organization, as well as the Nutrition and Feeding, Primary Care, and Nursing departments, along with the Kuwait Heart Association and the Kuwait Obesity Association, reflecting the convergence of national and international efforts to combat chronic diseases.
