Health service providers and MoPH officials during the workshop.
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health has recently organised a training workshop for around 90 health service providers from the Primary Health Care Corporation working in government schools, to strengthen their readiness to manage asthma cases within the school environment and equip them with the skills required to apply internationally recognised best health practices.
The workshop was held within the framework of implementing the “Asthma-Friendly Schools” Programme, as part of the Ministry of Public Health’s efforts to promote the health of students in government schools and to support students living with asthma, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Health Strategy 2024–2030.
The workshop reviewed the mechanism for implementing the “Asthma-Friendly Schools” Programme and discussed follow-up and evaluation procedures. It also highlighted lessons learned from previous experiences, in addition to the early identification of asthma symptoms and triggers, the correct use of asthma medications and devices, and the application of rapid-response procedures during asthma attacks.
It further addressed guidelines for managing a student with asthma inside the school, the use of the peak-flow metre to improve monitoring, and the importance of encouraging every individual with asthma to have an asthma control plan. The workshop also emphasised empowering students to manage their health condition with confidence and independence and increasing awareness of asthma triggers and irritants and their connection with environmental health.
Director of the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Programmes Department at the Ministry of Public Health, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani stressed the importance of the Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme in enhancing student health and ensuring a safe educational environment for students with asthma. He pointed out that the integration of efforts between the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Corporation constitutes a foundation for strengthening the quality of healthcare services provided in schools.
He noted that the Ministry of Public Health has achieved, over recent years, remarkable national accomplishments in raising awareness of asthma through large-scale activities organised on World Asthma Day, including media campaigns targeting the public, awareness workshops for the school community, and training programmes for school health staff.
Sheikh Dr Mohamed also praised the major role of the Primary Health Care Corporation in implementing the Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme by providing school health staff, offering continuous training, following up students with asthma, and connecting them to essential health services. Hamad Medical Corporation also participates in the programme through its clinical expertise and advanced specialities by developing the national guidelines for asthma management, providing specialised technical training to healthcare personnel, supporting rapid intervention mechanisms for emergency cases, and enhancing the preparedness of the health system to deal with asthma complications.
In her opening remarks during the workshop, Supervisor of the Asthma-Friendly Schools Programme at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Maya Al Shaiba stated that implementing the programme across all government schools reflects Qatar’s commitment to providing a supportive and safe school environment for students with asthma. She also praised the efforts of school health staff and their significant role in improving the quality of services provided to students.
