ShareKUWAIT: Emergency medicine has become an essential specialty in Kuwait, especially with the growing popularity of outdoor and marine activities, in which people could face risks that require a emergency care, health professionals said Thursday.
Dr Nawaf Al-Dehrab, Head of the Emergency Department at Al-Adan Hospital and Director of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Emergency Center, said gaining expertise in this field helps healthcare professionals handle challenges they might face as they provide care for injuries sustained during outdoor activities such as camping and hunting, as well as injuries during marine excursions. The challenges include the difficulty of obtaining medical resources, and the risks posed by wildlife, such as exposure to venomous reptile bites.
The health ministry is working to develop its emergency medicine response, especially outside hospital settings, said Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi during a workshop organized by the ministry.
The two-day workshop, titled “Emergency Medicine in Wildlife,” hosts a select group of speakers from Kuwait, the United States, the UAE, and Oman.
Minister Al-Awadhi said the workshop is a unique initiative, the first of its kind in the Middle East, aimed at advancing emergency medicine beyond the limits of centers and hospitals into the natural environments, both terrestrial and marine.
“Today, we are laying the foundation for a new path in the field of environmental medical emergencies, as a pioneering step that confirms Kuwait’s excellence in benefiting from medical innovations and applying them in practice,” he said in his opening speech.
He explained that the workshop seeks to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of expertise to support the quality of healthcare services in Kuwait. As part of the development of emergency medical services, the minister noted that the ministry opened an emergency clinic on Umm Al-Maradim Island in August. Additionally, the ministry has trained doctors to handle emergencies in unconventional settings and prepare them to provide care adapted to the surrounding environment.
In a statement to the press following the opening of the workshop, Minister Al-Awadhi said that the ministry is keen to attract local and global expertise in handling environmental medical emergencies, while focusing on the development of national cadres and expanding knowledge of developments in this field. The ministry is also providing training opportunities for doctors and healthcare practitioners to improve the level of integrated healthcare services. He explained that as part of enhancing field and practical experience, the workshop will include visits to Umm Al-Maradim Island and Al-Subiya, with participation from the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, and the Fire Department, to train medical teams from these sectors.
