56 Retiring MoH Officials Honored

 

The farewell function was held at the main auditorium of the ministry in the presence of senior officials of the ministry.

 

The retirees included men and women who rendered excellent services during their tenure with the ministry. Al-Rabeeah distributed gifts and mementos to the outgoing officials at the function held on a somber note.

 

Appreciating their services, Al-Rabeeah told the retirees that they had successfully carried out a noble task of providing health care services under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

 

“Even after your retirement, the ministry will be in touch with the officials, who have retired from public service. We will look after your interests during your retirement period,” the minister said, adding that their advice and guidance would be needed to continue the good work they initiated during their period.

 

In his speech, Health Ministry spokesman Khalid Al-Mirghalani said the honored retirees included health officials who had reached the retirement age under the public service regulations.

 

MoH Director of Employees' Rights Fahad Al-Sudeiry said there will be a regular follow-up program for the retired employees to look after their welfare.

 

Speaking on behalf of the retirees, pediatrican Talal Biyare registered his grateful thanks to the minister and other officials who had honored the retiring officials. “ We learned a lot from the ministry and we sincerely hope that the existing officers will continue the services rendered to the community,” Biyare added.

 

In a separate development, Director-General of Hereditary and Chronic Diseases Control Dr. Mohammed Yahya Sa'eedi, has pointed out that the diseases covered by the Healthy Marriage Program create social and health problems in society.

 

Post-nuptial diseases caused due to incompatibility of couples, he said, contribute a great deal to the suffering of both patients and their families, especially those suffering from hereditary blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

 

Sa'eedi said this last week during a workshop for the officials authorized to perform civil marriages (Legal Maazoun).

 

The workshop, whose theme was: “The Legal Maazoun's Role in Bringing Success to the Healthy Marriage Program”, was organized by the Hereditary and Chronic Diseases Control Department over two days at Riyadh Palace Hotel.

 

Quoting Chairman of Thalassemia International Federation Panos Englesoz , Sa'eedi said that Islam is a panacea for all human ills, which stresses on the protection of offspring and human rights.

 

Sa'eedi added: “One of the pillars upon which the Islamic Shariah is based is on achieving good, and warding off evil.”

 

Besides encouraging to choose the right spouses, the pre-marital clinical tests conducted by the ministry are important for the society. The Healthy Marriage Program is reckoned as a societal program, the official said, stressing that it is necessary to promote an active role by the relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

 

In this spirit, he said: “We have been placing particular emphasis on Legal Maazouns, since we are well aware of their importance and their effective role in conveying the right information. They are the opinion-makers, and their opinions are respected in society.”

 

Sa'eedi pointed out that the program has already taken momentous steps toward raising people's awareness, especially among prospective wedding couples.

 

Detailing the progress of the MoH medical counseling program for the prospective couples, he said the rate of response to medical counseling was 9 percent when the program was first launched seven years ago. “To date, this rate has reached 55.9 percent , and we're looking forward to attaining 100 percent during the coming years .”

 

Speaking on the occasion, Director-General of Legal Maazouns Sheikh Mohammed Al-Babtain said: “Islam reckons marriage as one of the basic pillars of society.

 

It is a strong and firm covenant for people's rights and duties. Consequently, the marriage contract is generally looked upon as one of the most authentic contracts, according to the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

 

The government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has been paying special attention to the good health and the well-being of the people who enter wedlock. The premarital tests by the MoH are done in good faith for the good health and future welfare of the people, he said.

 

 

Saudi Gazette