Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: Some 270 stroke patients are currently being treated, thanks to two new stroke units launched by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health recently celebrated the opening of the stroke unit at Nizwa Hospital, under the patronage of Sheikh Dr. Khalifa bin Hamad Al Saadi, Governor of the Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Sultan bin Yarub Al Busaidi, Advisor to the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs.
Since its opening in April 2016, the Nizwa unit has cared for 145 stroke-hit patients. It treated 19 patients at the rate of one patient per month. The unit contains six beds, including three for women and three for men.
“The stroke unit that was launched today is the third unit to be developed in the Sultanate’s hospitals. Two other units have been operating, including one at the Royal Hospital, and the other at Sohar Hospital,” said Dr. Al Busaidi. Last week a new stroke unit at Sohar Hospital was officially opened, under the patronage of Sheikh Muhanna bin Saif bin Salem Al Lamki, Governor of North Batinah.
The Sohar unit includes eight beds, four for men and four for women, and medical equipment meeting international standards.
The unit at Sohar Hospital began operating earlier this year, has treated 126 stroke patients. The units were established to provide care for patients who suffer from strokes, where the type of stroke is determined by CT scan and laboratory tests.
Stroke units
The project to develop stroke units is one of the health projects that the Ministry of Health has given great attention to.
“A fourth stroke unit is expected to be launched at Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah soon,” Dr. Al Busaidi said.
Furthermore, a plan of action has been developed to train medical staff, in cooperation with Khoula Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Amal Al Hashimiah, Senior Consultant.
The Ministry of Health has recently recruited a group of nurses to strengthen these units. Fifteen nurses are currently being trained in the Central Stroke Unit at Khoula Hospital.
Five of these nurses are expected to join the Stroke Unit at Nizwa Hospital, and the others will be sent to work at the Stroke Unit at Sohar Hospital and the Stroke Unit at Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah.
