China-Oman Medical Program for Omani Primary Health Care Professionals Begins

A number of (25) Omani physicians and health workers from the Sultanate’s different governorates joined last week the first training program on Early Detection of Rectal Cancer, held at the Southern Medical University, China. The program is the result of collaborative efforts made by the Ministry of Health’s Directorate General of Human Resources and the Ministry of Civil Services with the coordination of China Embassy in Oman.

This Special program on colorectal carcinoma held in the Peoples Republic of China is remarkably significant in promoting participants proficiency in the field of cancers particularly due to the increasing incident of colorectal cancer in the Arab population observed in recent years, which is variably attributed to lifestyle change and dietary habits. Additionally, in Oman, the Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer. It is the second common cancer in males and 4^th most common in females. The incidents have increased over the last 15 years.

The three-week program is focusing on preventing, screening, diagnosing as well as treating colorectal carcinoma through intensive theoretical and practical sessions.

Another batch of primary health professionals will be head to China to participate in the early detection of breast cancer training program which will start on 31 of July. It aims at training them to play as focal points trainers in the Sultanate’s primary health care institutions.

Such training programs are organized to review and gain China’s experience in this field.

It is worth noted that the Ministry will coordinate next year with the MCS to study a number of new training programs in various fields in general and specifically in the medical fields.