Oman, Cuba sign memorandum of cooperation in health fields
Geneva: The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Cuba signed, in Geneva, a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) in the fields of health and medical sciences. The MoC seeks to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise and ameliorate health systems in both countries. The MoC will contribute to the utilization of capabilities and opportunities in a tangible and comprehensive manner.
The MoC was signed by Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health, and Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba.
The memorandum of cooperation provides for exchanging medical personnel, conducting specialized training programmes and holding joint research in the fields of medicine and health sciences.
The MoC was signed on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly, currently being held at the headquarters of World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
8 hours ago
- Observer
Iraq reports 19 Congo fever deaths already this year
BAGHDAD: Iraq said on Thursday it has recorded 19 deaths from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever already this year and urged farmers and abattoir workers to step up precautions when handling livestock. A total of 123 cases have been recorded nationwide, health ministry spokesman Saif al Badr said in a statement, adding that 36 of them were reported in the poor southern province of Dhi Qar, which is heavily dependent on livestock farming. Congo fever is a viral disease which is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during or immediately after slaughter, according to the World Health Organization. It has a fatality rate of between 10 and 40 per cent, and most cases have been reported in the livestock industry. A previous surge in infections in Iraq in 2022 saw at least 27 deaths, compared with just six cases for the two decades from 1989 to 2009. The WHO attributed that flare-up to a rise in the tick population resulting from the failure to carry out pesticide spraying campaigns in 2020 and 2021. — AFP
Observer
21 hours ago
- Observer
WHO: New coronavirus variant seen only sporadically in Germany
The new coronavirus variant spreading globally,especially in parts of Asia, has not taken hold in Germany, according to the World Health Organization. The variant, known as NB.1.8.1, was first detected in January and has been classified by the WHO as a "variant under monitoring." In Germany, the variant was first detected at the end of March and has so far only appeared sporadically, according to the country's public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). "No trend can be derived here; current Covid case numbers are low,and correspondingly less sequencing is being conducted," the institute stated. University of Basel biophysicist Richard Neher said whether this variant "will establish itself [in Germany] depends on how other variants evolve. It is quite possible that NB.1.8.1 will prevail, but it is likely to be relatively insignificant." In the most recent reporting week, which ended on June 8, the RKIrecorded 698 Covid cases - a slight increase - but the institute noted this is off a very low base. Many infections are likely going undetected due to limited testing. Slight increase in virus load in wastewater Wastewater monitoring also showed a slight increase in SARS-CoV-2levels over the past four weeks - albeit still at a low level. The new NB.1.8.1 strain is derived from the XDV.1.5 lineage dominantin East Asia, according to biophysicist Neher. The state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua, citing the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention, reported that thenew strain had become China's dominant variant by the end of May." The variant is increasing in frequency compared to other variants,"Neher noted. NB.1.8.1 is therefore more transmissible in the sensethat an infection generates more secondary infections than otherstrains. No evidence of more severe cases There is no evidence that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe illness,Chinese authorities have said. This aligns with the WHO's assessmentthat, despite rising case and hospitalization numbers in countrieswhere the variant is widespread, there is currently no indicationthat it causes more serious illness than other circulating variants. Covid-19 vaccines currently approved are expected to protect againstsevere illness caused by NB.1.8.1, the WHO said.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Let the cats be
Muscat: Many cats do not belong to a home or to the wildlife, which is why they are known as feral. They are also referred to as community cats or neighbourhood cats. Their lifespan is much shorter than domestic cats due to the challenges they face, from lack of food to road accidents. Survival is a day-to-day struggle for them. They often hang around municipal trash cans and tend to avoid people unless provoked. The issue arises when people encroach on their territory. During the Eid holiday, when more people venture outdoors, a private sector hospital reported 16 cases requiring antirabies vaccinations in one day. One patient mentioned that a cat had bitten his big toe the previous day. He said, 'It was bleeding a lot last night, so the doctor advised me to get the vaccination.' Doctors check if the patient's blood has been exposed and recommend a tetanus injection. It is crucial to complete the five-dose anti-rabies vaccination series to prevent any complications. Dr Peter Nolosco, a Veterinary Surgeon at Capital Vet Clinic, explained, 'If a house cat is properly vaccinated, there is no need to worry. If the cat is infected, consult a physician. For stray cats, follow the physician's advice on tetanus and antirabies vaccinations.' Some people clean the scratch area and move on, while others seek medical attention promptly. A study published by the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal mapped the epidemiology of animal bites and rabies in Oman from 1991 to 2013. It found a high incidence of animal bites, emphasising the need for a rabies prevention and control programme. Oman now has a national surveillance system for animal bites and rabies, with notification required within 24 hours for group A disease cases. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Oman primarily uses purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) for post-exposure treatment. Pre-exposure treatment for high-risk groups is done by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR). Pets can travel once all precautionary measures are taken. Oman Airports have specific conditions for pets travelling through the Passenger Terminal, including obtaining permission from the destination country, following their laws and providing a veterinarian passport for the pet. As for the feral cats, they just need better understanding from the humans, especially children.
