Ministry of Health Launches National Campaign to Raise Awareness of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases
The Ministry of Health, represented by the Department for the Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, launched yesterday the national campaign for awareness of non-communicable chronic diseases and early detection at The Avenues Mall. The campaign will run throughout October at various primary healthcare centers and will conclude on October 29 at the Ministry’s General Diwaniya.
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 developmental and strategic plans to enhance public health. She noted that the focus is 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 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.
Dr. 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 Cancer Awareness Campaign (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, told KUNA in a similar statement 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 stated that the campaign’s message is “Your health starts with a step” to promote proactive prevention.
Dr. 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 Catering, 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.
