Later this month over 1,500 healthcare professionals from across the
region will gather in Qatar for the Second Qatar International Wound
Management Conference 2017. 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.
One
patient who is benefiting from Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC)
specialized multi-disciplinary Wound Care Unit is Mr. Haikel Lachiheb, a
32-year-old diabetic patient who developed a serious infection in his
foot after acquiring a wound.
Mr. Lachiheb is one of ten thousand
patients who has been successfully treated by HMC’s specialized Wound
Care Unit. This was established in 2009 as part of the Ambulatory Care
Services at Hamad General Hospital.
He first recognized there was
a problem after undergoing a minor operation on his foot. Mr. 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 specialized treatment and
follow-up care.
“When my open wound started to worsen, I was
really afraid of the resulting 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 Mr. Lachiheb.
Ms.
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 Mr.
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.”
Speaking about the care
he received, Mr. Lachiheb said: “I am grateful for the thorough care I
received from the excellent team of nurses and doctors in the Wound Care
Unit at HMC. Equipped with the best technology and high-quality medical
team, they really exceeded all my expectations.”
HMC will host
its second annual Wound Management Conference from 23 to 25 November
2017, 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.
The
event is being organized and sponsored by Final Vision. Qatar Datamation
Systems (QDS) will contribute as the platinum sponsor while Qatar
Charity will participate as this year’s humanitarian sponsor.
