By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: In a new initiative, the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has trained 30 general practitioners and speciality physicians in basic occupational and environmental health services.
Most doctors in the training programme work at primary health centres, are the first point of contact for patients and able to diagnose occupational diseases. Some are from Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) and others from organisations, including Qatar Petroleum.
An occupational disease is contracted primarily as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work activity. World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified over 100 such diseases. Work-related diseases have multiple causes and factors in the work environment may play a role, with other risks, in the development of diseases.
The programme with four modules of training for general practitioners and speciality physicians on basic occupational and environmental health services was organised in collaboration with WHO.
“We started the programme one year ago and is being done as part of the National Health Strategy to address occupational and environmental health problems,” said Dr Mohammed Ali Alhajjaj, Head, Occupational Health Section, SCH, on the sidelines of a workshop of the fourth and final module of the programme yesterday.
“The SCH is looking to build occupational health capacity by training general physicians and other professionals to expand and improve occupational health services. It complies with the National Health Strategy,” he added.
Asthma and hearing difficulties are common occupational diseases among work-related illnesses identified in Qatar. However, the prevalence of occupational diseases is very low as it takes some 10 years for symptoms to appear and diagnose, according to reports.
He said occupational and environmental health problems in Qatar are similar to other countries. “Some occupational diseases don’t need medication but prevention is more important among workers at risk.”
Special clinics for occupational and environment health services at three upcoming hospitals for low-income single foreign workers would help identify work-related health problems and educate patients on workplace risks.
The Peninsula
