MoPH celebrates Qatar Infection Prevention and Control Week

Doha, Qatar - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is celebrating Qatar Infection Prevention and Control Week, which runs from October 18th to 23rd. The theme for this year's event is 'Generations of Infection Prevention. Past. Present. Protected.' Under this theme, the MoPH aims to raise awareness about the importance of infection prevention and control, and to enhance practices that safeguard patients, healthcare workers, and the community.

The celebration aligns with World Infection Prevention and Control Week, underscoring the progress made in infection prevention across generations. From establishing the foundations of modern infection prevention to current efforts relying on scientific evidence, technology, and innovation, the focus is on strengthening healthcare safety and safeguarding future generations.

Collaborating with the World Health Organization, the MoPH will host a virtual seminar showcasing the history of infection prevention and control, the National Infection Control Programme in Qatar, and the role of innovation and technology in advancing infection control. Throughout the week, awareness activities will be conducted in healthcare facilities for healthcare professionals, patients, their families, visitors, and community members.

These activities aim to bolster readiness for early detection of infection risks and outbreak response, as well as to showcase initiatives, innovations, and digital technologies supporting infection prevention and control.

Dr. Ameena Al Fakhro, Director of the Healthcare Quality Department at the MoPH, emphasized the significance of ongoing national efforts to bolster infection prevention and control as a cornerstone of patient safety and improved healthcare service quality. She stressed that healthcare professionals play a crucial role in promoting safe practices and minimizing infection risks in Qatar's healthcare facilities.

Dr. Al Fakhro noted that successful prevention is measured not only by managing infection cases but also by preventing them from occurring in the first place.

This year's theme highlights the importance of building on past achievements in infection prevention and control, promoting evidence-based practices, and leveraging modern technologies and innovations to develop prevention methods and early detection of risks. The celebration pays tribute to healthcare pioneers whose vision and commitment established the groundwork for modern infection prevention, while recognizing the daily efforts of infection prevention and control specialists and frontline workers protecting patients and healthcare professionals.

It also underscores the importance of preparedness, data, surveillance, modern technologies, and innovation in enhancing infection prevention capabilities.

As part of the celebration, the MoPH launched a comprehensive awareness campaign emphasizing that infection prevention and control is a shared responsibility. Adhering to preventive measures and safe practices helps reduce infection transmission and enhance healthcare quality. The campaign aims to increase national awareness of infection prevention and control's importance, encourage adherence to preventive practices, and highlight advancements in the field, from basic practices to surveillance systems, data, and modern technologies.

It also stresses that innovation and technology support specialists' expertise and efforts, rather than replacing them.