The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has joined the world in celebrating World Meningitis Day by hosting a scientific symposium in Dubai entitled "Together to Defeat Meningitis."
The event, which involved the participation of several health workers, aimed to exchange knowledge and the latest global recommendations for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of meningitis, as well as to learn about disease prevention and fighting efforts and promote awareness about meningitis. The gathering also reviewed the WHO-approved vision of the Defeating Meningitis by 2030 global road map.
Taking part in the symposium was an elite group of experts and consultants in the fields of prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Global best practices
HE Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector stressed that the ministry is committed to constantly developing and upgrading the skills and capabilities of its healthcare workers, by holding scientific sessions that keep them well-informed about the latest developments and global practices. This will reflect positively on community members’ health.
Al Rand reaffirmed that the UAE has made outstanding achievements in combatting meningitis thanks to the country’s effective strategy that put the community's protection against contagious and communicable diseases first. The UAE’s accomplishments in this respect would not have been possible had it not been for the country’s effective preventive health system, and the epidemiological surveillance and management program to detect and treat cases.
2030 global road map
For her part, Dr. Nada Hassan Al Marzouqi, Director of the Public Health and Prevention Department, outlined the WHO roadmap to unite and intensify national efforts as well as to achieve the global strategic goals of eradicating meningitis by 2030.
Al Marzouqi said that according to international organizations' estimates, this strategy could save the lives of more than 200,000 people per year around the world, and significantly decrease the disability caused by the disease.
Meningitis is a rare infection of the thin membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis is a very serious disease, as it is life-threatening or can lead to brain damage unless the patient gets prompt treatment.