The Ministry of Health (MOH) is continuing its intensive efforts to deal with the climate condition "Luban" that the Sultanate is expected to be affected indirectly during the next coming days in the Governorates of Dhofar and Al-Wusat. This was affirmed by H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saidi, Minister of Health in a statement in this regard. 

The Minister of Health pointed out that H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Hosni, MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs along with Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al-Badi, Director of Emergency Management Center have been assigned to visit Dhofar Governorate to follow-up the health status at the Governorate and check the readiness of the health institutions. Furthermore, to ensure the continuity of providing health services in the Governorate during the climate condition and providing all the needs of manpower, medical equipment, medications and other logistic services for the institutions.  

Dr. Al-Saidi indicated that after the meetings, which held in the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Center at the Public Authority for Civil Aviation, to follow-up and examine the expected climate condition by all sectors, including the health sector, the Ministry has formed task forces to activate the National Health Emergency Plan for the Medical Response & Public Health Sector at the central level in the two Governorates, where the shift system has been started directly.

In addition, the MOH Contact Center has been activated during its two regular working periods, as well as shifts schedule has been prepared for the administrators in the emergency plan and for the doctors and health workers working in the health institutions in the Governorates that expected to be affected by the climate condition.

The Minister of Health also explained that the overall situation is currently discussed with the MOH senior and health officials in Dhofar Governorate stressing the need for continuity of health services in the Governorate. The safety aspects for inpatients and health workers have been taking into account, as well as upgrading the capacity of health institutions in the Governorate in coordination with the other sectors.

The Minister of Health continued that the health institutions in Dhofar and Al-Wusta are quite prepared for this climate condition in terms of the availability of health cadre, all equipment, drugs and the medical supplies for routine work. The nearby Governorates are fully ready to supply and cover the health services with medications, medical supplies and cadres when needed.

The central warehouses in the Ministry are fully ready to send additional shipments of drugs and other medical supplies to all the Directorates, Hospitals and Health Centers according to the activated supply plan, as well as the other plans that have been activated for the Engineering Affairs, Information Technology and Blood Bank.