PHOTO
04 June 2016
Doha - The new National Health Strategy 2017-2022 with special focus on workers' wellbeing will be launched on June 19.
The strategy plans to reduce accidents related to occupational health and safety by five to 10 percent, said Dr Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public Health at the Ministry. The ministry aims to decrease the accidents by three percent each year for next six years.
Some 90 percent of the goals of public health and those related to the occupational health and safety of National Health Strategy 2011-16 have been accomplished, he added.
"We are coordinating with a German company to improve our occupational health and safety system. We made remarkable achievements in several health sectors. Road accidents decreased by 30 percent last year and according to a preliminarily report, road accidents have come down by 30 percent so far this year.
"Around 50 percent reduction in road accident in two years is a remarkable achievement. In this area we have surpassed some advanced countries. The accident rate in Qatar is lower than countries such as US in terms of accidents per vehicle, said Al Thani.
Regarding the violation of summer timing that will come into effect from June 15 till end of August, Al Thani said that companies found violating summer timing will be suspended and severe action will be taken like banning the issuance of new visas among others, he added.
Three hospitals for labourers will be opened within next 18 months in Industrial Area, Al Khor and Mesaieed, said Dr Al Thani.
Replying to a question about the response of companies to comply with rules, he said no company intends to be in trouble by violating health and safety rules. We are doing our best to make them understand through various awareness programmes and gradually we will achieve our goals, he said.
Dr Al Thani was speaking on the sidelines of an awareness programme held at the Medical Commission to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work under the slogan "pressure in worksites".The programme was organised by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, local partners like Focus Qatar, a social organisation at Indian Embassy and private companies.
A free medical check-up was also offered to the workers. Some 1,400 underwent tests such as clinical examination, measurements of blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, BMI, evaluation and treatment by physiotherapists.
Some 100 single working women like receptionists, accountants and cleaning workers also received medical attention. A complete report of tests will be submitted to the Ministry of Public Health.
The officials from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs educated the workers about their rights and jobs, duty hours and rules of occupational health and safety.
Doha - The new National Health Strategy 2017-2022 with special focus on workers' wellbeing will be launched on June 19.
The strategy plans to reduce accidents related to occupational health and safety by five to 10 percent, said Dr Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public Health at the Ministry. The ministry aims to decrease the accidents by three percent each year for next six years.
Some 90 percent of the goals of public health and those related to the occupational health and safety of National Health Strategy 2011-16 have been accomplished, he added.
"We are coordinating with a German company to improve our occupational health and safety system. We made remarkable achievements in several health sectors. Road accidents decreased by 30 percent last year and according to a preliminarily report, road accidents have come down by 30 percent so far this year.
"Around 50 percent reduction in road accident in two years is a remarkable achievement. In this area we have surpassed some advanced countries. The accident rate in Qatar is lower than countries such as US in terms of accidents per vehicle, said Al Thani.
Regarding the violation of summer timing that will come into effect from June 15 till end of August, Al Thani said that companies found violating summer timing will be suspended and severe action will be taken like banning the issuance of new visas among others, he added.
Three hospitals for labourers will be opened within next 18 months in Industrial Area, Al Khor and Mesaieed, said Dr Al Thani.
Replying to a question about the response of companies to comply with rules, he said no company intends to be in trouble by violating health and safety rules. We are doing our best to make them understand through various awareness programmes and gradually we will achieve our goals, he said.
Dr Al Thani was speaking on the sidelines of an awareness programme held at the Medical Commission to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work under the slogan "pressure in worksites".The programme was organised by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, local partners like Focus Qatar, a social organisation at Indian Embassy and private companies.
A free medical check-up was also offered to the workers. Some 1,400 underwent tests such as clinical examination, measurements of blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, BMI, evaluation and treatment by physiotherapists.
Some 100 single working women like receptionists, accountants and cleaning workers also received medical attention. A complete report of tests will be submitted to the Ministry of Public Health.
The officials from the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs educated the workers about their rights and jobs, duty hours and rules of occupational health and safety.
© The Peninsula 2016
