Tuesday 07 / January / 2025
Salalah/ Rustaq: The Directorate General of Health Services in Dhofar Governorate and South Al Batinah governorates launched on Sunday the 'National Survey of Non-Communicable Diseases.
The survey on non-communicable diseases is one of the most important national projects that aim to enhance community health and develop the healthcare system in the Sultanate of Oman on scientific foundations, said Dr. Hamoud bin Saeed Al Fazari, Director of the Primary Care Department in Dhofar Governorate.
The survey targets citizens and residents in the Sultanate of Oman over the age of 15 years, and seeks to collect accurate and comprehensive data on the prevalence of diseases and their associated risk factors, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer, which still represent one of the most important challenges for health sectors nationally and globally, and have a major impact on the health of individuals and societies, through unhealthy health behaviours, he added.
He explained that the national survey programme includes two phases. The first phase includes field visits to update the maps of residential complexes and to enumerate citizens and residents in them, while the second phase includes visits to a number of residences in the governorates to take some samples and data using an approved questionnaire and take physical measurements and some health examinations.
He explained that the survey project will depend on accurately assessing the current health situation in the Sultanate of Oman and determining health priorities, noting that the data that will be collected during the survey will be used for developing innovative health policies and programmes that aim to prevent non-communicable diseases and reduce the health and economic burdens associated with them.
It is one of the programmes pursued by the Ministry of Health for the health and safety of citizens and residents.
The project was launched at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar.
The survey also commenced across the in South Al Batinah Governorate governorate which will last for two months.
Dr. Rashid bin Saeed Al Saadi, Acting Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services in South Al Batinah, stated that the project aims to collect accurate and comprehensive data on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory conditions, as well as the associated risk factors and health hazards they pose to the community.
The survey will contribute to the development of strategic and preventive plans and health programs to improve community health, prevent these diseases, reduce their risk factors, and enhance individual and community health. It will provide an overview of the health status in Oman and facilitate appropriate measures to curb the spread of NCDs and implement suitable health programmes.
