RIYADH: The World Health Organization (WHO), has accredited the Ministry of Health’s National Polio Laboratory (NPL) the region's referral center for clinical confirmation of measles, rubella and mumps for 2012.
Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Medical Services Dr. Muneerah Al-Osaimi said this accreditation is global recognition for the state-of-the-art services rendered by the NPL, which is housed at the Central Laboratory and Blood Bank of the Ministry of Health in Riyadh.
Al-Osaimi was speaking at a function held last week to honor the officials working at the NPL at the Regional Laboratory and Blood Bank in Riyadh.
Al-Osaimi attributed the laboratory’s success to the team spirit of the officials who worked with a sense of dedication and devotion.
She also thanked Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah for his guidance to carry out the project successfully.
The deputy minister pointed out that earlier the NPL obtained the WHO's accreditation to become a reference laboratory for polio tests in the Middle East. It also scored full marks in the quality examination (2010-2011), conducted as part of the Virus Quarantine Program organized by the WHO.
“This achievement reflects the ongoing development of performance in all laboratories and blood banks, with a view to obtaining the world's first-class accreditation certifications.
In doing so, we're looking forward to the provision of best-quality laboratory services, seeking to preserve our people's health and wellbeing,” she added.
The Kingdom was declared free of polio by the World Health Organization because of its successful campaign against the disease. According to reports from the ministry, incidences of measles, rubella and mumps were minimal in the Kingdom. “Only 300 cases are reported annually. This can be fully eradicated with an organized campaign against the diseases,” a senior official from the ministry told Arab News yesterday.
Measles is an acute viral contagious disease accompanied by fever, conjunctivitis, cough and red skin ulcers starting on the face and covering all parts of the body from the third to seventh day of infection.
Other common complications are middle ear inflammation, pneumonia, broncholaryngitis, diarrhea and encephalitis. There is no specific antiviral therapy for measles and the basic treatment is necessary supportive therapy such as hydration and antipyretics.
Mumps can cause fever, headaches and swelling of the cheeks and jaw. The swelling is caused by an infection of the salivary glands. Mumps can cause meningitis, an infection of the fluid and lining covering the brain and spinal cord.
Rubella is very dangerous in pregnant women. If a woman gets rubella in the early part of a pregnancy, it is very likely that her baby will die or be severely handicapped. The most common handicaps are blindness, deafness, mental disabilities and heart defects.
WHO makes KSA regional referral center for tests on measles, rubella and mumps
