Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has organised an interactive forum on Latent tuberculosis (LTB), titled “Engaging Discussions and Collaborative Insights for Effective Screening Policy Development.” The forum aimed to develop a comprehensive national framework for the early screening and detection of LTB and establish a national tuberculosis control program to improve early detection and curb the disease’s spread among community members.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event was attended by Dr. Laila Al-Jasmi, Head of the Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Department at MoHAP, as well as representatives from health authorities, including the Dubai Health Authority, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Health Services. The event also included representatives from Oman’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Participants engaged in discussions, sharing experiences to develop innovative screening policies that reflect the latest global practices
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Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, emphasized collaboration with partners across health authorities in the UAE and with the World Health Organisation to develop national policies based on the latest science and best practices. These policies aim to unify efforts and establish innovative screening mechanisms that boost early detection rates for LTB while also raising health awareness among community members. “It’s all part of our strategy to create a connected and forward-thinking health system that provides proactive and comprehensive services, backed by strong policies and public health programmes,” he stated.
The forum is part of MoHAP’s comprehensive strategies to boost collaboration among health institutions and develop advanced screening process solutions. The Ministry’s strategies also support national efforts to implement comprehensive and standardised screening policies, fostering cooperation and complementarity among stakeholders. During the f
orum, senior officials from participating health authorities shared the UAE’s experiences in combating latent tuberculosis and discussed ways to strengthen coordination among national health entities to achieve even better results.
Attendees expressed their commitment to rolling out agreed-upon policies and developing screening programmes that align with the UAE’s vision to protect community health and prevent infectious diseases. They also reiterated their support for the global fight to eliminate tuberculosis by 2050, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO’s mission to defeat the disease.
