The National Forum on Infection Prevention and Control 2026 commenced today (Wednesday) at the Maani Hotel in the Wilayat of Seeb. 
The Forum, organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control, was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Mandhari, MOH Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation, in the presence of Dr. Zakariya bin Yahya Al-Balushi, Director General of the Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control at the Ministry of Health, along with a number of officials, directors, heads of departments, and staff members of the Centre.
The two-day Forum brings together 200 healthcare professionals, including medical and allied medical staff, from healthcare institutions across the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. It features presentations by a distinguished group of national specialists and experts from within the Sultanate of Oman.
The scientific programme includes sessions and specialized discussions highlighting the latest developments and practices in infection prevention and control, the management of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, monitoring of infection prevention and control programmes, outbreak management, central sterilization, environmental hygiene in healthcare facilities, and modern infection prevention and control practices.
Jaber bin Saif Al-Soti, Head of Infection Prevention and Control Programmes at the Ministry of Health’s Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control, delivered a speech in which he said: “Infection prevention is a fundamental pillar of healthcare quality and patient safety, and a shared responsibility that begins with every individual within the healthcare system. 
Al-Soti invited everyone to participate in the community awareness day to be held at Muscat Mall in AL Seeb, with the aim of raising public awareness of infection prevention, emphasizing that their participation would make a difference.
At the conclusion of the Forum, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, MOH Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation, honoured infection prevention specialists who had obtained the Certification in Infection Control (CIC), an internationally recognised credential, after successfully completing the preparatory course organised by the Ministry for the certification examination.
The course was delivered to 60 specialists in three cohorts over 2025 and 2026, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) Regional Office. This achievement reflects the Ministry’s continued investment in developing national capabilities in infection prevention and control.
The second day of the Forum will be dedicated to community awareness activities at Muscat Mall in the Wilayat of AL Seeb, starting at 5:00 p.m. The activities aim to raise awareness among community members, healthcare workers, patients, and educational institutions about the importance of adhering to infection prevention and control measures, and their role in protecting public health, reducing the transmission of infections, and helping save lives.
The Forum is being held in conjunction with World Infection Prevention and Control Week, which this year carries the theme “Generations of Infection Prevention”. This reflects the Ministry of Health’s commitment to safeguarding the safety of patients and healthcare workers in health institutions across the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as its continued support for national infection prevention and control programmes.