JEDDAH: The Northern Border Region’s health department has launched an investigation into the death of a woman during childbirth at a hospital in Arar.
Abdullah Al-Azmi, director general of the department, was quoted as saying by a local publication that an ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the actions of the doctor who had performed the delivery.
However, while no complaint has been filed yet by the woman’s family, the committee has decided to suspend the doctor from work until all investigations are complete, he said.
Hamza Awad, spokesperson for the department, reportedly confirmed an investigation was underway and that a statement on the matter would be issued soon.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced that it had held training programs for health officials on Monday in Hail, a region that has seen a rise recently in people falling ill with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus.
The program included an introduction to the virus, procedures for handling cases, and infection control methods such as washing hands, said Jameel Al-Jameel, director of the infection control department in Hail.
He said that the training program and workshop targeted health workers at the hospital and would be repeated next week. All senior officials attended the program, he was quoted as saying.
On a related matter, Mutlaq Al-Khamalie, director of the health department in Qasim, visited Al-Rass province after a third person was found infected with MERS. He met with various health officials and was briefed on the situation.
Arab News
