For the ninth consecutive year, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is launching its phone-in program, receiving people’s inquiries regarding the various health problems they encounter during the holy month of Ramadan.
“The program entitled ‘Your Health in Ramadan’, will begin on the first day of the holy month,” MoH Spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani told Arab News yesterday.
“It would help Muslims in the Kingdom clear their doubts regarding the medical problems they face specially during this month,” he said.
The program this year is focused on the theme of ensuring Muslims maintain their health and a balanced lifestyle throughout Ramadan and is organized by the MoH’s Media Information and Health Awareness Center.
The spokesman said the program would focus on the importance of taking the prescribed doses of medication during the month of Ramadan and provide medical tips and consultations.
The service is available on toll free number 8002494444. It will be operated in Arabic and is open for the public from 1 to 3 p.m. on week days.
“We have arranged for a number of specialist doctors in various fields to answer live questions from 1 to 3 p.m. on all week days during the month,” he said, adding that the physicians would also interact with the public through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
The official said the annual program during the holy month has been a big hit and he hoped that this year’s service would also attract a larger number of Muslims, who wanted to avail themselves of the ministry’s services.
“We assure all callers strict confidentiality of the information provided during their telephonic inquiries, he said, adding that men suffering from chronic ailments such as diabetes and hypertension are free to ask questions about their dose of medicines and how they should consume their insulin during the holy month, while women could inquire about matters related to their health and their children’s.
Besides this program, the spokesman said that the ministry would continue with its health education program through the television and radio channels. “The whole idea of the program is to balance one’s lifestyle during Ramadan, to consume the right portions of food and intake of medication,” he said, pointing out that over-eating during the holy month results in obesity and stressed that the timings of the medicines to be taken during the non-fasting hours, should be according to medical advice.
The ministry has been carrying out a similar program to apprise the people of the food habits to be followed to beat the heat during the summer holiday season. “Now we will continue the program with a focus on Ramadan,” Mirghalani said.
Hello Ramadan phone-in program begins tomorrow
