The MOH Media Information and Health Awareness Center hosted the consultant physician of family medicine and accredited trainer of the family medicine graduate program at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Faten Abdullah Al-Radiny, through the toll-free no. 8002494444. Dr. Al-Radiny affirmed that during the summer, some common diseases spread such as gastroenteritis, fevers and colds; due to sudden weather changes. Also, the incidence of food poisoning increases in the summer as a result of the elevated heat that causes food rottenness.
Dr. Al-Radiny pointed out that the chance of food poisoning actually increases when travelling; therefore, food should be well cooked, or when eating out, you should make sure to eat in good sanitary restaurants and avoid eating uncooked old dishes or fresh salads since cooking and boiling kill germs that cause diseases for the most part. Moreover, you should drink more water and liquids during the summer as the body tends to lose a high amount of liquid when sweating; which leads to dehydration; especially when you have gastroenteritis as you need high amounts of liquid to avoid dehydration; which is considered one of the riskiest complications on health.
As for the tips for travellers, Dr. Al-Radiny placed a particular emphasis on completing all the basic vaccines against diseases, as well as vaccinating against Hepatitis A as it is transmitted through contaminated food that the traveller maybe exposed to. Furthermore, she underscored the significance of visiting a physicians before travelling because, in some countries, epidemic diseases maybe widespread. So, it is preferable to take vaccinations or preventative drugs; to avoid having any diseases-Allah willing. For instance, if you are travelling to India, it is medically recommended to take vaccinations against poliomyelitisand typhoid as a precaution since they are spread in India as indicated in World Health Organization (WHO) and in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); which greatly helps many physicians to determine the right vaccines for travels as per their destination.
Moreover, Dr. Al-Radiny went on to add that it is vital to be prepared to take the sufficient drugs when travelling; especially for those who suffer from chronic disease such as diabetes or hypertension; in order to avoid any risks in case of forgetting the drugs or having to take any alternatives; which may cause any complications. Also, it is highly recommended to wear a bracelet, a necklace or an ID to indicate your name, contact numbers, type of disease, used drugs, and most importantly, allergies against any drugs to avoid any major health risks; especially since you are away, where communication with relatives is very hard unless specified in your ID card in cases of emergency.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Radiny stressed a particular emphasis on the significance on Personal hygiene such as constantly washing hands, using paper toilets when having colds or coughs, avoiding public toilets, and any medically risky behavior when travelling or at home.
Mandating the significant position of an Accredited Trainer of the Family Medicine Postgraduate Program at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Al-Radiny utilized her major as a Consultant Family Medicine; as she stated that being a trainer at the Postgraduate Program of Family Medicine at the Ministry of Health is a great honour as our beloved nation is in need of such major, since family medicine is the gate to the health system; which is the health base of the health pyramid all over the world. However, the scarcity of this major both, locally and internationally, has affected on the required right application of family medicine.
Family medicine cares for the individual medically, psychologically and socially; and helps promote public health of the individual and the society by educating them and raising their awareness. There is a great hope that postgraduate programs would contribute to provide medical competencies in that major increasing the number of family medicine physicians, consultants and specialists in order to promote the level of the offered services in primary health care centers and achieve the MOH’s goal to serve individuals and the whole society.