such diseases, especially for the elderly, while ensuring the continuity of
providing quality health care services for this group.
Summary of the Ministry of Health reply to NIHR:
a) The Ministry stated that it pays attention to providing integrated and
comprehensive health services to protect the health of the
population of all age groups, including the elderly. The Ministry
provides health, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services and
ensures that all individuals receive proper health care to achieve
the goals, strategic plans and initiatives of the concerned
departments and divisions of the Ministry.
b) The Kingdom of Bahrain has been keen on the prevention and
control of non-communicable diseases and the associated risk
factors in all its health programs. The “National Plan for the
Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases and
Associated Risk Factors” was developed in response to the
“Political Declaration” adopted by the United Nations in September
2011, which emphasizes the need for governments to develop
national plans to prevent and control these diseases. In addition,
the Ministry is committed to complying with the goals set by the
World Health Organization to reduce the death rate among adults
due to non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, cancer,
diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases) in the world by 25% of
its 2010 rate.
c) The Plan includes a number of goals that pertain to the
recommendation, and executive programs relating to the National
Plan’s Strategy, all of which are focused on combating noncommunicable diseases and raising awareness. This is achieved
by promoting preventive methods and guidance through
comprehensive health coverage and primary health care,
supporting national research capacities in the field of prevention
and control of non-communicable diseases to monitor and identify
the limiting factors, above all the provision of essential medicines
and vaccines for all. This would contribute to meeting the indicators
for realizing the Third Goal of the sustainable development goals
(SDGs), which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
d) Furthermore, government hospitals play a pivotal role in providing
specialized services for the elderly, including psychiatry services,
special care services and long-term stay for the elderly, depending
on their health problems and mental, cognitive and motor abilities.
Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR
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