MoPH meet highlights best practices in infection prevention

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) held a scientific conference as part of the Qatar Infection Prevention and Control Week, under the theme "Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention."During the conference, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Primary Health Care (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and Doha Clinic Hospital presented their new initiatives, techniques and mechanisms to promote best practices in infection prevention and control.MoPH has also launched an awareness campaign on social media to promote awareness of infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities. The campaign included awareness messages highlighting this year's theme.The conference included presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions presented by experts in the field. During the conference, infection control teams from several health organisations were honoured for their efforts in preventing infection while providing health care to patients in the Gaza Strip.Over 1,000 health practitioners, infection prevention specialists, local and international experts, and representatives of various public, private, and semi-government healthcare organisations participated in the event. Several leaders of Qatar's healthcare sector, healthcare workers, and key stakeholders concerned with infection prevention and control also attended the event.The conference was a part of the main activities and events organised by MoPH in collaboration with its partners to mark Qatar Infection Prevention and Control Week.The Ministry of Public Health also organised a workshop, which included hands-on training for participants on managing pandemics and outbreaks of communicable diseases when they occur. The workshop focused on practical strategies for managing communicable disease outbreaks. The attendees gained valuable insights and learned about the mechanisms and approaches to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings.Several healthcare institutions in Qatar held educational lectures and competitions as part of Qatar Infection Prevention and Control which aimed to encourage healthcare workers to remain vigilant and to continue improving infection prevention and control standards in healthcare settings.The Infection Prevention, Control, and Antimicrobial Resistance Section at the Ministry of Public Health has conducted field visits to several healthcare facilities to emphasise the importance of prioritising infection control strategies and practices and their primary role in healthcare delivery.Qatar Infection Prevention and Control Week is an annual national event organised by MoPH, inspired by the International Infection Prevention Week. It aims to promote infection prevention and control practices among healthcare workers and the community, encourage sustainable collaboration between healthcare sectors and highlight the importance of safeguarding public health through robust infection prevention and control programmes.