The Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Directorate General of Health Services for the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, organized today (Wednesday) the North Al Sharqiyah Health Forum "National Campaign to Promote Public Health for Women and Children” at the Al-Amjad Hall in the Wilayat of Ibra.
The National Campaign to Promote Women and Children's Health aims to strengthen the overall health of women and children across the Sultanate of Oman. The Campaign shines a spotlight on preventive, curative, and promotive health programs, with a strategic focus on reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality, and reinforcing the importance of integrated healthcare services.
The Forum was inaugurated under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Mona bint Fahd bin Mahmoud AL Said, Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University and Chairperson of the Children First Association. The event was attended by a number of Their Excellencies, representatives of international organizations in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as directors general, departmental heads, and experts from the Ministry of Health.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Saidi, Director General of Health Services in North Sharqiyah, emphasized in his speech that the Sultanate of Oman has prioritized the health of women and children since the early days of the Blessed Renaissance, recognizing that investment in this field is an investment in the future, stability, and sustainable development. The Royal Directives to establish a center for maternal and child health came as a reinforcement of this commitment.
He added that the Ministry of Health translated this vision into a number of national programs, most notably: the National Maternal and Child Health Care Program, the Expanded Program on Immunization, the Growth and Development Monitoring Program for children under five, the National Screening Program for Cervical and Breast Cancer, in addition to initiatives aimed at promoting proper nutrition.
Al Saidi pointed out that these efforts have positively impacted key health indicators, including a decline in the maternal mortality rate to 17.5 per 100,000 live births and a reduction in the under-five child mortality rate to 11.1 per 1,000 live births.
The Director General of Health Services in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate also highlighted the achievements made in women's and children's health services. He noted that the number of days allocated to maternal and child health clinics has been increased, and additional clinics have been introduced, operated by midwives trained in maternal and child care.
He indicated that the rate of early pregnancy registration rose significantly to 90% in 2024, compared to 80% in 2022, and the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women at the time of registration dropped to 19%, down from 21.8% in 2022.
Furthermore, maternal care has been significantly strengthened through training healthcare providers to detect congenital anomalies. As a result, this vital service is now offered in 50% of primary healthcare institutions, as well as Ibra Hospital, where all pregnant women are received within the designated time frame for this service.
In the field of infertility treatment, Al Saidi stressed that all primary healthcare institutions now provide comprehensive care, with medical and allied health teams trained on the updated infertility treatment guidelines.
He added that intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures were performed for approximately 35 cases at Ibra Hospital, resulting in three successful pregnancies.
In the area of obstetric and emergency services, the childbirth information board has been updated, and new breastfeeding counseling clinics have been introduced.
Regarding child health services, the child mortality rate in the Governorate dropped from 62 to 36 between 2019 and 2024, and the immunization coverage rate reached 99.8% across the Governorate.
Al Saidi also praised the significant expansion of the early breast cancer screening service, which covered more than 9,000 women over the past three years.
It is worth mentioning that this national campaign is held in partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Information, and the Children First Association. Several preparatory meetings were held in advance, and field visits were paid across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman starting in June 2024.
