MoH phone-in Ramadan program in full swing

For the eighth year in succession, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched its phone-in program at its call center in Riyadh to help people clarify their health problems during the month of Ramadan.
The program called: “ Your Health in Ramadan” was launched beginning Saturday.
“ It would help the Muslims in the Kingdom to clear their doubts on their medical problem faced specially during the holy month,” a spokesman from the MoH told Arab News yesterday.
The program which would focus on the theme: “Make Ramadan Healthy and Balanced”, is organized by the Media Information and Health Awareness Center of the MoH .
The spokesman said the program would focus on the importance of taking doses of prescribed medicines during the month of Ramadan and provide medical tips and consultations.
The service is available on toll free number 8002494444 The service in Arabic, is open for public from 1 to 3 pm on week days.
“ We have arranged a number of specialist doctors in various fields to answer live questions from 1 to 3 pm on all week days during this month,” he said, adding that the physicians also would interact with the public through social networking sites such as Twitter.
On the second day of Ramadan , on Saturday, the Center interviewed Dr. Majdah Berhaimen, a consultant physician of kidney diseases. She answered people's questions and inquiries revolving around kidney patients' fasting in Ramadan, the effect of soda water on the kidneys, the polycystic kidney disease and its treatment, as well as many other questions.
On Sunday, the Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah met the Tunisian Ambassador to the Kingdom Najib Muneef at his office in Riyadh yesterday. Center arranged an interview with Dr. Safeyah Al-Sherbini, oncologist and diabetes consultant, on how to change the diabetes dosing system in Ramadan, and how to adjust the blood-sugar level during Ramadan's day-time, as well as many other questions on the causes, symptoms and treatment of diabetes.
On Monday, the Center interviewed Dr. Abdulelah Al-Twairki, an optician, and the Director of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. Most questions revolved on Lasik eye surgeries and their complications, eye inflammation, tear duct obstruction, and the causes of the dry eye.
Yesterday's program started with a brief talk about the do's and dont's during the holy month by Dr. Tarek Al-Khuwaiter, who answered questions on various issues encountered by the people during this month.
On Wednesday, Dr. Khalid Al Midemeih, consultant physician on family medicine and diabetes will be present to reply questions from members of the public on medical problems faced by patients during the holy month.
He said that the number of callers to the call center under the program has been increasing steadily year by year because of its usefulness and popularity among the public.
The official said the annual program during the holy month has been a big hit and he hoped that this year's service also would 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 also continues 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 with the consumption of their food and intake of medicines,” he said, pointing out that over-eating during the holy month would result in obesity and stressed that the timings of the medicines to be taken during the non-fasting hours, should be according to medical advice.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah met the Tunisian Ambassador to the Kingdom Najib Muneef at his office in Riyadh yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed ways of cooperation between the Kingdom and Tunisia in the health sector and explore possibility of exchanging medical expertise to strengthen the links between the two countries.