RIYADH, 10 November 2002 — Saudi Arabia will have a substantial participation in a major health conference to be organized by the Pan-Arab Union of Neurological Sciences (PAUNS) in Cairo to discuss neurological problems, especially brain catheterization and neuro rehabilitation.
This five-day event, in which all member Arab countries will participate, will be inaugurated on Jan. 13 next year. This was disclosed by Dr. Mohammed Anwar Etribi, president of PANUS conference, and a senior Saudi neurologist Dr. Walid Khoja, chairman of the Saudi Advisory Group Against Stroke (SAGAS).
They were speaking here on the occasion of a scientific meeting on stroke organized by SAGAS in cooperation with PAUNS. Prof. Saleh Al-Deeb, PAUNS chairman and Prof. Basim Yaqub of Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital were also present.
Dr. Etribi and Dr. Khoja said that the Kingdom, which hosted the seventh PAUNS meeting and is currently chairing the Pan-Arab body, has witnessed greater expansion of neurosciences in this region.
The Cairo congress, they said, seeks to spread the knowledge of neurosciences not only in the Middle East but also among members of the neurological community around the world. PAUNS was founded in 1975.
Referring to the services offered by the newly-founded SAGAS, Dr. Khoja said that the Saudi group has intensified efforts to educate people about stroke, which is one of the five top causes of death in the world besides being the most common cause of physical and mental disabilities.”
SAGAS, he said, is ready to face the challenges with its slogan “Don’t let the stroke strike.”
He said that SAGAS, which comprises interested individuals from the disciplines of neurology, cardiology, nephrology, and diabetology; seeks to maintain highest standards of health care for stroke patients.
The group seeks to educate people in Saudi Arabia about the risk factors associated with stroke.
These factors, he said, are mainly hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac diseases, hyperlipidemia, blood disorders and smoking.
Dr. Khoja pointed out that the prevalence of hypertension in Saudi Arabia has been around 10-23 percent of the population.
On the other hand, diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as a major national hazard as the latest statistics show a marked increase of DM (around 25 percent) among Saudis above the age of 40. “This is in addition to hyperlipidemia, which is also a risk factor that is common among Saudis”, said Dr. Khoja adding that rheumatic heart disease is the common cause of stroke among Saudis below the age of 45.
Smoking is also a recognized risk factor among young Saudi population. According to an estimate, about 40 percent of Saudi university students are smokers.
