HMC hosts international wound management meet

Morethan 1,500 healthcare professionals from across the region will gatherin Qatar for the Second Qatar International Wound Management Conferenceto be hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) 2017 from today.Thethree-day event is under the patronage of the Ministry of Public Health.The conference will bring together leading healthcare experts andhighlight the most recent innovations in wound care best practice.Accordingto Hamad General Hospital’s medical director Dr Yousef al-Maslamanithere is an increasing demand for wound care services in the country dueto the steady population growth and rise in the incidence of chronicdiseases and other serious illnesses as well as the number of patientsundergoing surgery. Haikel Lachiheb, a 32-year-old diabetic whodeveloped a serious infection in his foot after acquiring a wound, isone of 10,000 patients who has been successfully treated by HMC’sspecialised Wound Care Unit. This was established in 2009 as part of theAmbulatory Care Services at Hamad General Hospital.He firstrecognised there was a problem after undergoing a minor operation on hisfoot. Lachiheb says he noticed the wound was not healing and afterseeking medical attention he was advised another operation was required.From there he was referred to the wound care team for specialisedtreatment and follow-up care.“When my open wound started to worsen, Iwas really afraid of the consequences. Thankfully, I was provided withan urgent follow-up appointment with HMC’s wound care service. The teamthere took special care of me,” said Lachiheb.Shaikha Alial-Qahtani, director of Nursing for Wound Care at HMC, said: “Mostwounds that we see in diabetic patients heal slowly and can worsenrapidly, which means these patients, in particular, need to be closelymonitored.” She added: “Along with treating Lachiheb’s existingwound, we offered him important advice on what he could do to aid hishealing process. As a diabetic patient, this meant working oncontrolling his blood sugar level through diet and teaching him to beaware of any open wounds developing so they could be treatedimmediately. “He was also advised to maintain good circulation toassist with the healing of his existing wounds and to help prevent thedevelopment of any wounds in the future.”