SCH commends commitment to precautionary measures in fighting COVID-19

Manama, Nov. 7 (BNA): The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) held its regular meeting under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the SCH President and Head of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19). Minister of Health Faeqa bint Said Al Saleh participated in the meeting alongside the council members. The SCH extended congratulations to the Bahraini doctors and all affiliates of the medical sector on the Bahraini Doctors’ Day. It praised, in this context, the initiative of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to allocate an award and an annual day for Bahraini doctors who are making enormous sacrifice in all circumstances. Highlighting the national efforts to combat COVID-19, the council lauded the preemptive measures and exceptional cooperation of the Bahraini people, pointing out the high discipline and social commitment which contributed to mitigating the spread of the pandemic. The SCH pointed out availability of the COVID-19 vaccine which was authorised by Bahrain to be administered in an optional way to frontline people in close contact with infected cases. SCH Secretary General Ibrahim Ali Al Newakhdha said the council underscored the importance of building on the success achieved in curtailing the virus outbreak by adhering to the precautionary measures and the directives of the national taskforce led by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. After discussing issues on the council’s agenda, Commander of the King Hamad University Hospital Major General Dr. Shaikh Salman bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa gave a presentation on the project of treating patients suffering from a brain stroke. He stressed that the hospital succeeded in providing the latest means to diagnose cases in one hour which helped deal rapidly with them according to international protocols. The SCH discussed the needs of the pioneering project to provide the best therapeutic services. It directed for continuous coordination between Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and the King Hamad University Hospital to ensure development and sustainability of the project at the highest standard. Health Ministry Undersecretary Dr. Walid Khalifa Al Mena gave a detailed presentation on a draft project to amend the law of transferring and transplanting human organs. The SCH President directed to submit the amendments to the council members to study them. The council also discussed the proposed amendments to a law on exercising the human medical profession and dentistry. It stressed the need to thoroughly review the law by legal advisors and specialised doctors before a proposal, in this respect, is submitted by the National Health Regulatory Authority after coordinating with the relevant parties. At the end, the council reviewed the recommendations of the High Committee for Development and Strategic Planning. The committee Head, Dr. Meriam Al Jalahma, presented a study on the need of Bahrain for medical personnel for the period spanning from 2020 to 2025.