His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, and the President of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, and Chairman of Saudi Environmental Society, His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, have signed the first agreement of its kind at the level of the Gulf Countries and the Middle East, between the Saudi Environmental Society and the Ministry of Health under the title “Environmental Management of Health Facilities”.
During the inauguration of the fourth Gulf Environment and Sustainable Development Forum and International Exhibition, held under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the period of 4-6/6/1434H (corresponding to 4-6/4/2013) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Dr. Al-Rabeeah stressed that economic and developmental projects in the Kingdom and Gulf countries in general must be in an environment safe from threats and risks and able to face challenges; in order to sustain its human and financial gains, saying that no health could be demonstrated without a pure environment, and that environmental health guarantees the wellbeing of the individual, family, society and the whole nation.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah went on to add that MoH participation emanates from its conviction in the significant role of the environment to prevent from the emergence of epidemics, and be able to control it before it outbreaks. It goes without saying that this conviction does not conflict with health concept that expanded to include the complete physical, intellectual and psychological safety. He stated that the MoH strategic target is to provide integrated comprehensive healthcare in accordance with international standards and basic values that control the workflow in the Ministry. One of the necessities for such inclusiveness is that care is not confined to medical services, yet it must be accompanied by the attention to health-promoting, educational and preventative concepts.
In the meantime, he added that prevention contributes to rationalizing health costs spent by countries to treat diseases, where it was possible, with prevention, to have been spent on launching new developmental projects. Since changes and environmental factors affect directly or indirectly the public health, the MoH has paid a great attention on preventative measures; as policies concerning environmental health have been executed at the level of the Kingdom in cooperation and coordination with the concerned authorities.
In the same vein, Dr. Al-Rabeeah indicated that the Ministry has managed to activate a number of specialized health programs to improve and maintain the medical status of citizens, develop a department of environmental protection in health facilities, sign a number of contracts with specialized companies to dispense medical waste in a practical, safe way, and follow up the regional and international situation of diseases, especially epidemiological diseases to prevent its outbreak in the Kingdom.
The Minister of Health pointed out that the Ministry has recently issued the regulations of health surveillance system to access ports after coordination with the concerned authorities; in order to prevent the outbreak of epidemic or quarantine diseases between citizens, residents and pilgrims.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah further expounded that the MoH recognizes that health is everyone’s responsibility; the cooperation of all concerned sectors and institutions contributes to achieving the aspired prevention, based on the moderation in using resources and finding a pollution-free environment. From this prospective, the MoH constantly endeavours to have useful partnerships with institutions and sectors that could help it to offer distinguished curative and preventative services. One of the helpful partnerships is signing the “Environmental Management of Health Facilities” Memorandum of Understanding, which is considered the first of its kind between the MoH and SENS.
In conclusion of the Forum and International Exhibition, the President of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, and Chairman of Saudi Environmental Society, His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, awarded the Minister of Health with the “Society’s Ambassador” shield and title.