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.”
host