The Ministry of Health’s crisis unit, the Command and Control Center (CCC) has ordered a dialysis unit in a Riyadh private center to shut its after failing to comply with infection control guidelines issued by the CCC to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
The CCC has given the center specific directives to improve its standards of infection control and has issued a deadline for these directives to be applied before re-evaluation by the Directorate of Health Affairs in Riyadh. These directives will ensure the facility conforms to the new standards that are designed to ensure the protection of citizens, residents and health care workers from the spread of disease within medical facilities.
Dr. AbdulAziz Bin-Saeed, Deputy Minister for Public Health and Head of the CCC, said “These efforts coincide with the steps the CCC is taking to prepare for the expected seasonal increase of MERS-CoV cases in the Kingdom, as indicated through epidemiological studies of outbreaks in recent years.”
Dr Bin-Saeed highlighted the center’s critical role in preventing future outbreaks of infectious disease through its coordinated efforts in prevention, surveillance, intervention and rapid response. He added that the CCC’s new location in Riyadh has allowed it to better reach network branches in all regions of the Kingdom and enhanced its ability to take proactive action against anticipated challenges related to public health.
The CCC has a mandate to establish and support the improvement of all facets in the Saudi Healthcare system needed to curb the spread of infectious disease, such as MERS-COV. The Ministry stresses the importance of proper hygiene practices including: regularly washing hands with soap and water; refraining from touching the eyes and nose; and adopting proper sneezing and coughing etiquette. The Ministry also advises care when in close proximity with the sick, and to avoid contact with sick animals. For more information please visit
www.moh.gov.sa.