38 Saudis get diploma in infection control

RIYADH: The second group of 38 male and female Saudi graduates specializing in infection control received a diploma at a simple ceremony at the auditorium of the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The graduation ceremony, held under the patronage of Health Minister Khalid Al-Falih, was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Health Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Saeed, General Director of Infection Control Dr. Hayel Al-Abdali and Undersecretary to the Ministry of Health for Preventive Health and General Supervisor of the Infection Control Program Dr. Abdullah Asiri.
The diploma program is accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI), which has been working with health care organizations, ministries of health and global organizations in over 80 countries since 1994.
The JCI, which focuses on improving the safety of patient care through the provision of accreditation and certification services, as well as through advisory and educational services aimed at helping organizations implement practical and sustainable solutions, has been accrediting health care organizations since 1999.
Since then, approximately 450 public and private health care organizations in 50 countries have been accredited or certified by JCI. It provides accreditation for hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, clinical laboratories, care continuum services, home care and long-term care organizations, medical transport organizations and primary care services, as well as certification for 15 types of clinical care programs.
Dr Abdul Aziz said that the program including the syllabus, practical experience, theory and curriculum was approved by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to ensure international standards.
Dr Abdul Aziz, who presented the certificates to the successful diploma holders, said the issue of anti-Infection is a major concern for most of the world’s hospitals, where patients sometimes develop fatal diseases as a result of bacterial infection. Therefore, he pointed out that the successful graduates will make a useful contribution toward reducing the percentage of wound contaminations, transmission of bacteria from person to person and possible inflammation.
Speaking on the occasion, Al-Abdali pointed out that the level of skills acquired by the graduates are of international standards and they are carried out in par with standards maintained in reputed hospitals in the United States.
He recalled that the ministry, in collaboration with the US hospitals, was able to bring the best trainers to educate the students.
The graduates received their internships in hospitals such as the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh and Jeddah, King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh, King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah and the King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam. “They received theoretical and practical training in these health facilities,” he noted.
The ministry has 15 JCI accredited hospitals throughout the Kingdom.