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[quote]Stomach cancer is most common type in Oman HEALTH FIRST: Dr Ali Moosa is confident of the success of MoH plans MUSCAT — About 10 percent of the total cancer patients registered two years ago constitute children, Health Minister Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa has said. Above 93 per cent (93.1 per cent) of the 841 cases registered in the Oman National Registry in 2002 were Omanis. “Fifty three per cent (451 cases) were men. Also, 78 cases were among children aged 14 years and below constituting 10 per cent of the total cancers reported. “Leukemia’s, lymphomas, followed by neuroblastoma were the commonest cancers seen in this age group,” Dr Ali Moosa told the Times of Oman. “Overall, the commonest cancer in the Omani population was stomach cancer, followed by leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The most common cancer in males was stomach and in females breast, followed by thyroid and stomach,” he said. “Most cancer cases are treated either medically by chemotherapy or surgically through out all the hospitals in Oman,” Dr Ali Moosa said, adding that the management of all cancers would now be carried out in the new oncology centre. The health minister also revealed that the Sultanate was currently on the final phase of eliminating blinding trachoma. “We hope to complete it (the phase) by next year,” he said. Emphasising that vision loss was a priority programme in the sixth five-year plan of the MoH, he noted that among other plans to increase the comprehensive eye care was to embark on a glaucoma survey. Dr Moosa also highlighted the status of the Sultanate’s fight against major diseases like Aids, skin diseases, tuberculosis, malaria, eye and other infectious diseases. Aids A chapter on the HIV/Aids has been included in the curriculum of the higher secondary students in the ‘Facts of Life’, MoH publication, Dr Moosa said. “High risk groups, blood and blood products and blood of non-high risk groups are also screened for HIV and pregnant women are tested for HbsAg, VDRL and HBC,” Dr Ali Moosa added. The national HIV/Aids/STD prevention and control programme was established in 1987 by forming the national technical and national health education committees for technical assistance to the programme. “This programme, since its initiation, continues to be a priority programme,” Dr Ali Moosa said. “In order to achieve goals like prevention of HIV transmission, reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection and Aids and reduction of the impact on individuals and families, information is provided to the general public and specific groups on Aids/STD through media campaigns, information booklets, seminars and workshops and through peer education programmes,” he said adding that counselling to patients and their families is also an integral part of the programme. Skin diseases “Skin diseases are a concern to the MoH and a lot of work is going on in the medical field regarding controlling of skin diseases at different levels,” Dr Moosa said. Dermatological services are provided in all the major hospitals in all the regions and different types of skin diseases like fungal, bacterial and viral are treated. Special types of speciality clinics like photo therapy, laser, allergy clinic, paediatric dermatology, bullous disorder clinic, mycology, chemical peek, dermatopathology, dermatosurgery and leprosy are also conducted, Dr Moosa said. Tuberculosis According to the health minister, tuberculosis (TB) has a low incidence in Oman. The estimated incidence rates of all TB cases in 2003 is 11.91 per cent per 100,000 population. “Oman implemented the DOTS strategy nationwide in 1996 and this has produced remarkable results – 84 per cent detection rate and more than 90 per cent cure rate. Anti-tubercular drugs are under full control of the programme. “Private clinics and hospitals are not permitted to treat TB cases; it is mandatory to refer them to the nearest MoH facility or referral chest clinic,” Dr Ali Moosa said. Malaria Dr Ali Moosa noted that the last indigenous malaria cases were recorded in 1999 and in 2000 the API (annual parasite incidence) was 0.03/10,000 problem. “With the start of the sixth five year plan, the consolidation phase of the national malaria eradication programme (NMEP) began with the objective of strengthening surveillance and epidemic preparedness. “Last year, a total of 740 cases were recorded, 732 imported and six introduced, one relapse and one cryptic. Forty (40) percent of the cases were Plasmodium falciparum and 59 per cent Plasmodium vivax,” Dr Moosa said. This is indeed a far cry from the time in the past when malaria was one of the major public health problems in Oman. The national malaria eradication programmes was launched in Al Sharqiyah region as a pilot project in 1991 to stop local transmission and eliminate the reservoir of infected cases. It was then extended to other regions in phases with the goal of reaching an annual parasite incidence of 1/10,000 population by 2000. “After the remarkable drop in the number of cases in 1994, investigation and epidemiological classification of all the cases was started. “A year later, importation of malaria was mainly from East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Thus, distribution of prophylactic drugs for travellers and screening of passengers from Africa was started. Eye diseases Oman is currently undertaking the final phase of the elimination of blinding trachoma for 2005, Dr Ali Moosa revealed. “Vision loss is a priority programme included in the sixth-five year plan of the MoH. Rehabilitation of low vision children has been initiated. Also, special clinics have been created in all regional hospitals to provide comprehensive and special care to diabetics and glaucoma patients. “We are also planning to have a glaucoma survey sometime this year,” he said. Comprehensive eye care is provided through primary and secondary units in all the regions of Oman since 1995. The Vision 2020 document of Oman has placed special emphasis on the six diseases – cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, refractive error and corneal diseases. “Active trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Oman,” Dr Moosa said. Infectious diseases According to Dr Ali Moosa, there are currently 40 diseases under the communicable disease surveillance and control programme. “The new and emerging disease like Sars was included under group A by a ministerial decree in 2003. Viral hepatitis is one of the priority communicable disease and specific tests like ELISA were introduced to differentiate viral hepatitis into serotypes A, B, C, D and E from July 2003,” he said. Also, all blood samples are now processed centrally at the public health laboratory from January 2004. Since the launch of the EPI in 1981, substantial progress has been made. Immunisation coverage levels have increased substantially from 10 per cent in 1981 to nearly 99 per cent in 2003 and the EPI target diseases have correspondingly declined. The combine vaccine (pentavalent) was introduced in July 2003. It is worthy to note that to combat the problem of the importation of Sars in Oman, a number of measures were taken in 2003, including the establishment of a quarantine ward, screening of passengers, entry restrictions, etc. Ajmal Ahmad Regional Representative ME-AF Chapter Studying Islam (www.studying-islam.org )[/quote]
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