Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is observing Infection Prevention and Control Week from October 18 to 23 with a series of awareness activities aimed at reinforcing infection control practices across the country’s healthcare sector. The campaign, themed “Generations of Infection Prevention. Past. Present. Protected.,” coincides with the globally recognized World Infection Prevention and Control Week.
The initiative highlights the historical development of infection prevention methods and underscores ongoing efforts driven by scientific research, technological advancements, and innovative solutions to enhance healthcare safety and protect future generations. Through collaboration with the World Health Organization, the MoPH plans to conduct a virtual seminar that will explore the history of infection prevention and control, details of Qatar’s National Infection Control Programme, and the role of digital technologies in advancing infection prevention measures.
In addition to the seminar, the campaign includes a range of awareness activities across healthcare facilities targeting healthcare professionals, patients, visitors, and community members. These efforts focus on improving early detection of infection risks, strengthening outbreak preparedness, and showcasing national initiatives and innovations that support infection control.
Dr. Ameena Al Fakhro, director of the Healthcare Quality Department at the MoPH, emphasized the importance of continuing to build on past achievements in infection prevention. She noted that the theme of the campaign reflects the need to adopt evidence-based practices and leverage modern technologies to develop effective prevention strategies and enable early risk identification. According to Dr. Al Fakhro, these efforts contribute substantially to protecting patients, healthcare workers, and the wider community.
As part of the campaign, the MoPH has launched a comprehensive public awareness initiative to stress that infection prevention and control is a collective responsibility. The campaign encourages strict adherence to preventive measures and safe practices, which are crucial to reducing the transmission of infections and enhancing overall healthcare quality.
This year’s observance also pays tribute to healthcare pioneers whose work laid the foundations for modern infection prevention and control, recognizing their enduring impact on national and global health standards. The MoPH’s sustained focus on infection control aligns with broader public health goals, meeting the challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases through innovation and collaboration.