Abdulhamid Al Kharusi, Muttrah wali deputy, explained that health committees have several main tasks. The most notable are unification efforts to coordinate between different sectors to achieve Health for All and the sustainable development aims, identifying and analysing health issues and challenges and find effective solutions.
The committees sponsor community initiatives that promote health, supervising various community competitions` organisation. They find the necessary resources at the local level to implement their activities and health aims.
Health Committees` Priorities
Al Kharusi stated that their priorities are based on government, Ministry of Health directives and other factors, such as risk. Diseases and health crises with a significant impact on public health and community needs are prioritised with a focus on widely health issues.
Health Awareness
The health committees` programs in Muscat Governorate are diverse, and include community awareness programs, which aimed to raise health awareness among community members.The programmes of the health committees in Muscat Governorate are diverse and comprehensive, and include a wide range of community awareness programmes aimed at raising health awareness among members of the community. They include various health events and activities that target all community groups.
The committees in Muscat wilayats have implemented several awareness programs. Abdulhamid Al Kharusi said that the Muttrah Health Committee organised awareness campaigns that focus on diabetes and hypertension prevention, programs promote awareness of personal hygiene and environmental health. Awareness-raising efforts have also been implemented to antidrugs, with these programs, which focus on healthy, social and economic risks associated with drugs.
Regarding Muscat committee efforts, Dr Fayrouz bint Ahmed Al Kathiri,the committee rapporteur and health services` supervisor in Muscat, stated that it has launched community health activities. In December 2022, "Muscat Volunteer Health Team" was established to train Omani young to offer community health services. They include diabetes, blood pressure measures, and clinical dressing for simple cases. It also provides psychological support to the elderly and organizes awareness programs to students, government and private entities. Al Kathiri added that the committee has adopted various health projects, including the "Awareness Health Train", which was launched in September 2023 titled "Your Health is in Your Hands". It targets government organizations, hospitality, schools and museums in Muscat. It stresses the programs` importance such as `Check and Reassure` and `Pre-Marriage Check`. It also offers genetic counselling for hereditary blood diseases and informs about travel medicine.
"Health Train" stations include consultations on women`s health, early detection of breast cancer, breastfeeding counselling, child health, infection control and dental health. It also offers nutritional and pharmaceutical advice, and various laboratory tests for It also provides nutritional and pharmaceutical advice, and provides various laboratory tests for beneficiaries targeted within the Ministry of Health`s programs. These efforts are supported by the Royal Oman Police, the Consumer Protection Authority, Muscat Pharmacy, Muscat Municipality and Oman Cancer Association.
Society Initiatives
The National Campaign to Antinarcotics and Psychotropic Substances in Muttrah is the most notable health efforts in Muttrah, it won second place in the National Anti-Narcotics Competition. The campaign was titled `We Stand Together`, reflecting collaboration between individuals and organisations to improve awareness of the drugs` dangers.
Mariam Al Rashidi, Muttrah Health Committee`s member, said that the campaign organized public events and awareness workshops in schools and public councils. In addition to launching the "After Recovery" initiative to support people recovering from addiction and socialize them.
Health Committees` Efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abdulhamid Al Kharusi explained that the Muttrah health committee has made remarkable efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing awareness campaigns to inform the community about the COVID-19 virus. It increased awareness about social distance, wearing masks, and following other prevention methods. It, in cooperation with other entities, has contributed to the free coronavirus tests and provided consultations for infected cases.
Mariam Al Rashidi noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown charitable and community organizations to work together. The health committee acted as a link between health organisations and the community. It supported residents, especially those who depend on trading in the Muttrah market, during the lockdown. It provided quarantine centres and distributed food and health supplies to affected families.
The Muttrah Wali Office worked in coordination with the Health Committee to establish mobile extensions within health institutions for testing and treatment, and to ensure the isolation of infected patients from other patients to avoid the infection in public clinics.
According to Dr Fayrouz Al Kathiri, the Muscat Health Committee has made wide efforts during the pandemic. It received suspected cases, provided tests and healthcare for COVID-19 patients at all disease stages, and transported patients to emergency departments and hospitalization. It has increased community awareness about infection control methods, dealing with infection cases, and follow-up daily.
Difficulties and recommendations
Al Kharusi stated that the most important challenges facing health committees is the finance lack, which makes it difficult to implement the necessary health projects. Additional sources of funding should be looked for from the private sector or international organizations. They suffer from trained volunteer cadres’ lack and qualified individuals’ lack to perform health tasks, which requires continuous training and development courses for health teams. There is a lack of coordination between agencies, which causes roles’ overlapping. To solve this issue, it is necessary to establish coordination teams that facilitate collaboration and distribute tasks. It is advisable to organize regular meetings between health committees and other government and community entities to exchange information and joint planning, which achieves the desired health aims.
Health committees lack special financial accounts to collect donations, which prevents them to implement necessary health projects, said Mariam Al Rashidi. In this context, it is proposed to enhance cooperation with local traders` associations to provide financial and technical support, especially regarding the migrant communities’ service.