KUWAIT: Director of the Jahra Health District, Dr Jamal Al-Duaij, said that the region serves about a million people, stressing that it will soon witness a qualitative shift in the services it provides. Al-Duaij added during a celebration held by the region on Sunday on the occasion of World Psoriasis Day that work is underway to develop internal medicine departments, specifically those related to diabetic foot, pointing out that 30 percent of Kuwaitis and residents suffer from diabetes. He pointed out the developments that the region will witness in the coming period will be the first of its kind at the level.

He explained that work is underway to develop the nuclear medicine center and radiology department, as well as the plans to provide more advanced services in the internal medicine and ophthalmology departments. He said that the hospital’s administrators and technicians are quite promising and they will provide better service with great support from the Minister of Health and the Undersecretary of the Ministry. He stated that the region was keen to celebrate this day with the aim of spreading awareness about this chronic disease that causes psychological and social crises worldwide.

It is considered a painful, acute and chronic disease that affects millions of people globally and is often associated with other diseases. Head of the dermatology department Dr Muhammad Al-Otaibi said that psoriasis is a common but chronic disease that affects humans in the form of red bugs of different sizes covered by silvery scales affecting any part of the body.

Dr Al-Otaibi stressed that psoriasis is not contagious and this does not prevent a person from enjoying daily life. He pointed out that the global prevalence rate ranges from 2 to 4 percent, and there are studies that show that it reaches 5 percent in the Arab world. In Kuwait, there are about 100,000 cases of psoriasis.