More than 1,500 healthcare professionals from across the region will gather in Qatar for the Second Qatar International Wound Management Conference to be hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) 2017 from today.
The three-day event is under the patronage of the Ministry of Public Health. The conference will bring together leading healthcare experts and highlight the most recent innovations in wound care best practice.
According to Hamad General Hospital’s medical director Dr Yousef al-Maslamani there is an increasing demand for wound care services in the country due to the steady population growth and rise in the incidence of chronic diseases and other serious illnesses as well as the number of patients undergoing surgery.
Haikel Lachiheb, a 32-year-old diabetic who developed a serious infection in his foot after acquiring a wound, is one of 10,000 patients who has been successfully treated by HMC’s specialised Wound Care Unit. This was established in 2009 as part of the Ambulatory Care Services at Hamad General Hospital.
He first recognised there was a problem after undergoing a minor operation on his foot. Lachiheb says he noticed the wound was not healing and after seeking medical attention he was advised another operation was required. From there he was referred to the wound care team for specialised treatment and follow-up care.
“When my open wound started to worsen, I was really afraid of the consequences. Thankfully, I was provided with an urgent follow-up appointment with HMC’s wound care service. The team there took special care of me,” said Lachiheb.
Shaikha Ali al-Qahtani, director of Nursing for Wound Care at HMC, said: “Most wounds that we see in diabetic patients heal slowly and can worsen rapidly, which means these patients, in particular, need to be closely monitored.”
She added: “Along with treating Lachiheb’s existing wound, we offered him important advice on what he could do to aid his healing process. As a diabetic patient, this meant working on controlling his blood sugar level through diet and teaching him to be aware of any open wounds developing so they could be treated immediately.
“He was also advised to maintain good circulation to assist with the healing of his existing wounds and to help prevent the development of any wounds in the future.”
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