KUWAIT, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi affirmed that investing in infection prevention and control programs is the most prudent and impactful form of investment, as it serves as a strong line of defence in reducing healthcare-associated infections, improving clinical outcomes, and easing economic burdens on the health system.
This came in the minister's opening speech at the Second International Conference on Infection Prevention and Control, jointly organized by New Mowasat Hospital and the Kuwait Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The event was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Al-Munthir Al-Hasawi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and CEO of New Mowasat Hospital Eng. Abdullah Al-Wazzan, Medical Director of the hospital Dr. Samer Abdullah, and KCDC representative Dr. Hussein Al-Shammari.
Dr. Al-Awadhi said the convening of the conference goes beyond being a scientific continuation, reflecting a firm belief that infection prevention and control have moved beyond technical procedures to become a cornerstone of healthcare quality.
He noted that infection control represents a decisive entry point in confronting one of the most serious global public health threats, namely antimicrobial resistance, stressing that preventing infections directly reduces antibiotic use and limits the emergence and spread of resistant strains.
Kuwait has adopted precise national indicators to measure progress through 2030, embracing the "One Health" concept that links human health with environmental safety in an integrated framework, recognizing that irrational antibiotic use and weak infection control require high-level coordination across sectors, he added.
Dr. Al-Awadhi expressed pride in Kuwait's tangible progress, noting that all government hospitals have been integrated into the World Health Organization's global surveillance system, highlighting the pivotal role played by KCDC in leading efforts, unifying policies and building national capacities in both public and private sectors.
He also pointed to the exemplary partnership between KCDC and New Mowasat Hospital, announcing that a national workshop on the WHO-NET program will be held to integrate private-sector laboratories into the global surveillance system starting in 2026.
In turn, Medical Director of New Mowasat Hospital Dr. Samer Abdullah said the conference reflects the hospital's and the broader medical community's commitment to reducing hospital-acquired infections and microbial and viral infections, which can have serious consequences for patient safety, particularly following surgical procedures.
Dr. Abdullah added that the hospital places special emphasis on such scientific conferences and activities, noting that Mowasat Hospital is among the oldest private hospitals in Kuwait, having been established nearly 60 years ago, and has continued to provide distinguished healthcare services under the motto "Quality, Excellence and Caring for Generations." (end) mnm.aa