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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
Doha
The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on Thursday opened the region's first Communicable Disease Center (CDC) dedicated to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases as well as education and research.
The centre has a focus on tuberculosis (TB), respiratory diseases and other infectious diseases including leprosy, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), influenza, measles, hepatitis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani and Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari opened the centre on Thursday.
The opening of the CDC marks the start of the largest expansion phase in HMC's history, with the delivery of four new hospitals planned over the next six months.
In a statement, Kuwari said,"The new Communicable Disease Center will provide a dedicated facility for the identification and treatment of infectious diseases in Qatar, giving patients direct access to the most advanced treatment options available. It delivers a key piece of infrastructure in HMC's facilities master plan and helps to meet the country's growing need for specialist healthcare services and faster access to care options. Working with the Ministry of Public Health, the Primary Health Care Corporation and other stakeholders, this facility will undertake a critical health mission in the management of infectious diseases in Qatar and protecting the population from their impact."
HMC Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Head of Infectious Diseases Dr Abdullatif al Khal said the centre is the ninth addition to the existing HMC facilities."It is a state-of-the-art building with a comprehensive outpatient services for people with infectious diseases."
The 9,000-square metre facility has 65 single-bedrooms, all with negative pressure and 100 percent fresh air exchange, with the capacity to be converted into isolation units.
The centre is also home to Qatar's first dedicated and comprehensive Travel Clinic, which will open in January 2017.
Besides, it offers comprehensive inpatient services for patients who need hospitalisation and also houses outpatient clinics providing services which include pre-marital counselling and education for those with infectious diseases.
"We work with Ministry of Public Health, Public Health department of Medical Commission and other health sectors in Qatar to prevent the spread of the disease and to control it," Khal said.
The centre is also home to Qatar's first dedicated and comprehensive Travel Clinic, which will open in January 2017.
Khal said this will be a one-stop-shop offering vaccinations and preventative information for people traveling overseas. It will also provide assessment, treatment and counselling for those returning with travel-related illnesses.
"We will provide travel health services for those who are planning to travel to countries where there are risks of catching diseases."
Khal said the facility will be a centre of innovation where HMC conducts research, collects statistics and analyses them.
"The CDC is also home to the National TB Control Programme and the TB Laboratory. The state-of-the art laboratory provides all public and private health sectors with TB diagnostics and leadership on a national level. The CDC also serves as a teaching centre where young doctors, nurses and medical students learn how to diagnose and manage infectious diseases. The CDC is not only Qatar's first line of defence in partnership with Ministry of Public Health in identifying, preventing and managing outbreaks and pandemics, but we also aim to establish it as a world class research facility specialising in the field of transmissible diseases."
The building is equipped with an automated pharmacy system dispensing medication quickly and safely and enabling pharmacists to spend more time with patients.
In addition, the CDC has in-built and stringent infection control measures including negative pressure patient rooms and public spaces with state-of-the-art air filtration and ventilation systems. These will prevent cross-contamination from room to room and will mitigate the risk of acquiring any infectious illnesses.
Senior Consultant of Infectious Diseases and Deputy Chairperson of Medicine Dr Muna al Maslamani said the hi-tech at the facility will help prevent people from catching the infections within the facility.
