KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi on Monday inaugurated the chronic respiratory unit for children at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital in the presence of Undersecretary of the Ministry Dr Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi Al-Awadhi. He stressed in a press statement following the inauguration the importance of the chronic respiratory unit for children at Jaber Hospital, noting that it will contribute to the development of healthcare for children as it is a new addition that reflects the Ministry’s keenness to provide the highest standards of healthcare for children suffering from chronic respiratory problems.

This step comes within the framework of the Ministry’s strategic plan to provide comprehensive and distinguished healthcare for all citizens and residents in Kuwait and within its continuous efforts to develop medical services and provide the best treatments and modern technologies. For her part, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Jaber Hospital and Consultant of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases, Sleep Disorders, and Chronic Respiratory Diseases Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi explained in a similar statement that the chronic respiratory unit represents a qualitative leap in the field of healthcare.

Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi takes a group with the health officials.

Some of the medical equipments.

The unit aims to provide integrated and comprehensive care for children who suffer from breathing difficulties due to several pathological reasons, including muscle weakness, dysfunction of the respiratory control in the brain, chronic lung diseases, or even suffocation resulting from sleep disorders. She stated that through this unit, children who rely on mechanical ventilators, whether through a tracheostomy or through positive airway pressure devices, can receive specialized care that contributes to improving their quality of life.

She pointed out that recent studies have proven that the use of long-term ventilators enhances the child’s ability to perform daily activities better and contributes to increasing his/her life expectancy based on the health condition and medical diagnosis. The unit consists of five rooms equipped with the latest equipment and technologies, in addition to a room designated for critical cases. — KUNA