2007
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Quake hits Jordan
A third earthquake in two weeks was felt in parts of Jordan, Palestine's West Bank and Israel yesterday, Sunday, reported the AFP. Jordan's Natural Resources Authority said the tremor, which was felt mostly in Jerusalem, Jericho and around the Dead Sea, registered 4.5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was north of the Dead Sea and no casualties were reported.
Iran funds for health
Iran is planning on spending about 17% of its annual total budget for 2008-2009 on the healthcare sector according to Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani and cited by the Iran Daily, referring to an interview with the weekly Atieh publication. The funds would be used to cover the ministry's expenses as well as to support medical universities and centres and widening insurance cover.
Bird flu strikes in Saudi
Saudi Arabia's agriculture ministry announced a new outbreak at an egg farm in a town south of capital city Riyadh, reported CIDRAP. Officials that the country's latest H5N1 outbreak occurred at an egg production facility in Al-Kharj governorate, south of Riyadh. All 216,000 birds at the farm will be culled, and farmers have been asked to block migratory birds' access to barns, feed warehouses, and drinking water, the KUNA report said. The H5N1 outbreaks come at a difficult time for Saudi Arabia, which is expecting a large influx of visitors from around the globe for the annual pilgrimage season.
UAE hospital opens stroke unit
Al Ain Hospital has opened the first stroke unit in the UAE, offering enhanced treatment to people suffering from strokes, reported Gulf News. The hospital said a dedicated unit was needed because it receives 150 to 180 stroke patients every year.
Bahrain youth raise HIV awareness
A group of Bahraini youth will be raising awareness about HIV during a weeklong initiative beginning on Saturday, reported Gulf Daily News. More than 25 individuals, aged between 18 and 24, will be speaking to students, non-governmental organizations, clubs, nurses and health professionals to educate them about infection and protection. The move is part of a public HIV awareness drive that aims to banish discrimination, expel common myths and misunderstandings and educate people about the disease.
$1.6bn health island in Bahrain
A $1.6bn Health Island off the coast of Muharraq is expected to create hundreds of jobs for Bahrainis and make a significant contribution to the economy, reported Gulf Daily News. Officials believe that this new development would turn Bahrain into a regional hub for health tourism. The project is expected to be completed within three to five years time. Around 50 per cent of the development, including the island's beaches and businesses, will be open to the public, while the rest will be within gates and private areas. Set up to execute major development projects, Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), a subsidiary of Bahrain-based Ithmaar Bank will set aside more than half of its $2.9 bn project towards the Health Island initiative.
More bird flu cases in Saudi
More cases of bird flu have been found at a poultry farm in Saudi Arabia, reported Reuters. A statement published on the official Saudi Press Agency said all birds at the farm 150km south of Riyadh, were culled after the H5N1 strain was found there. Saudi authorities killed 50,000 birds in the same area earlier this month after 1,500 birds died of unknown reasons. Estimates state that the total loss for bird owner in the country hover around $1.3m.
Gulf invests $10bn to build hospitals
With demand for hospital beds in the region set to double by 2025, Arabian Gulf countries are spending $10bn to build new hospitals to meet demand. The budget for these projects, which does not include the costs for required medical equipment, is being led by Saudi Arabia, which is spending $6.5bn on dozens of public and private sector hospital and clinic projects, followed by Qatar ($1.5bn), and the UAE ($596m), according to statistics compiled by Proleads.
Aids cases on rise in Arab world
The number of AIDS related deaths has increased almost six-fold since 1990 in the Arab region, where one new HIV infection occurs every 10 minutes, according to a United Nations Development Programme report. Over half a million people in the region live with AIDS and 68,000 people are newly infected with HIV. The study says the Arab region will face infection rates of 4% by 2015, reported Gulf News.
UN Aids counselling workshop in Oman
The United Nations Population Fund's Gulf Cooperation Council Area Office in Muscat will hold a workshop on 'Cutting Edge Issues in Programming for Young People: Youth Friendly Services' from 25 November, reported Gulf News. The workshop aims to raise awareness among the youth about Aids and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as provide resources for education and help or counseling.
FAO: Rift Valley Fever could spread
The Food and Agriculture Organization has cautioned that an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Sudan could spread rapidly in the coming weeks, due to the widespread movement of livestock in preparation for the Muslim holiday Eid Al-Idha, reported the Voice of America.
7.1m in Saudi measles drive
Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry has revealed that 7.1m children aged between nine months and 18 years have been vaccinated against measles following a nationwide drive, reported Arab News. Health Minister Dr Hamad Al Manie launched the campaign on August 25 with vaccinations being provided free of charge to both nationals and expatriates at family clinics and government hospitals.
Penalties for denying medical care
Zaid Al Seksek, director of the Health Policy Regulation Department at the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, has warned health institutions in the emirate not to deny medical care to patients in critical condition because of their inability to afford treatment fees, reported Gulf News. Al Seksek said strict penalties will be handed out for health care professionals who violate the new Patient Referral Policy adopted by the authority, which prohibits ignoring emergency cases in the event of patients' inability to afford fees.
Oman lifts Indian poultry ban
Oman has lifted its import ban on poultry from India, reported Gulf News. Oman's decision follows a statement from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that India is free from bird flu.
Blood transfusion centre for GCC
The GCC countries have agreed to form a unified blood transfusion centre within five years to be prepared for a potential surge in demand, reported Gulf News. Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, member of the Executive Board of Health Minister's Council for Gulf Cooperation Council, said all Gulf countries have enough stock in their blood banks, but the agreement between the countries will help to ensure there is adequate supply in case of an unexpected crisis.
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