Muscat, September 20 (ONA) The Non-Communicable Diseases Department of the General Directorate of Primary Health Care, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund, finally organized the annual meeting between the central officials of non-communicable diseases and those in charge of them in the governorates, through video conferencing.

The program of the meeting included a speech by Dr. Shatha Al-Raisi, Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, followed by a speech by the representative of the United Nations Population Fund. The program also included a number of scientific lectures, as Dr. Takashi Isutzo gave a lecture on people with disabilities who suffer from chronic diseases.

The Heads of Non-Communicable Diseases sections in the governorates reviewed the status of non-communicable disease services in primary health care institutions in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the extent to which services provided to patients with chronic diseases are affected and the measures taken to protect medical staff and patients from infection, in addition to discussing the challenges facing workers in non-communicable diseases clinics, and proposals to overcome them as well as exchanging experiences and benefiting from interventions that demonstrate their success.

The concerned departments in the ministry has evaluated the effect of reducing appointments in chronic disease clinics to avoid transmitting infection to clients and to enable the staff in primary health care institutions to provide basic services to people suspected of having Covid-19 and confirmed cases. The downsizing promoted evidence-based planning and intensified work on interventions necessary for the next stages of the pandemic.

(ONA)