Kuwait steps up waste control to tackle public health hazards

Arab Times

5 days ago

KUWAIT CITY, June 21: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi announced Saturday that the Ministry of Health has conducted over 12,800 exploratory field operations to assess waste disposal sites across the country. The initiative aims to curb the spread of insects and rodents that pose health and environmental risks.
Speaking to reporters during an awareness event held under the slogan "Prevention is Better than Control", Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized the ministry's renewed commitment to tackling long-standing environmental sanitation challenges through a modern approach. The awareness day was part of the broader Environmental Sanitation campaign, which was launched in late 2023.
"Waste disposal has always been a challenge," the Minister said. "But today, we are approaching it with a new vision that targets environmental imbalances contributing to the spread of diseases and epidemics — not only in areas under the ministry's jurisdiction, but across the country."
Dr. Al-Awadhi stressed that waste management is a collective responsibility. "Whether on farms, at construction sites, or in public spaces, improperly disposed waste leads to an accumulation of pests and rodents, which are significant sources of disease," he warned.
The Minister noted that the Ministry of Health operates a dedicated department for pest and rodent control and urged citizens and residents to report any waste issues by calling the hotline at 151 and selecting option 6. He also revealed that a digital reporting link is being established via the "Sahel" platform, enabling the public to report environmental concerns more efficiently.
"The health of humans, animals, and the environment are interlinked, and must be treated as a single ecosystem," he said, calling on the public to support the campaign and work towards creating a healthier society for future generations.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Fahad Al-Ghamlas, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health, said the campaign would continue beyond 2025. It is being implemented in collaboration with key government agencies including Kuwait Municipality, the Environment Public Authority, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources, and the Ministries of Public Works and Interior.
Dr. Al-Ghamlas explained that the campaign is designed to correct environmental imbalances caused by human activities that harm wildlife and promote the proliferation of disease-carrying insects. "The main objective is to highlight how human behavior can disrupt ecological balance, and in turn, compromise public health," he stated.
The campaign also seeks to raise awareness about the root causes of environmental issues, such as random waste disposal — whether household, agricultural, or construction-related—and poor sewage management or enclosed spaces that serve as breeding grounds for pests.
To address these problems, the ministry has deployed specialized teams across all health districts to detect violations and coordinate corrective actions with relevant authorities. These field operations are part of the broader One Health concept, which recognizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health.
Dr. Al-Ghamlas noted that data from these field assessments, including photos and reports, are submitted to ministry officials and other concerned agencies. The Environmental Sanitation Committee studies trends in pest and rodent prevalence linked to waste and pollution, develops action plans, and monitors implementation and effectiveness of control measures.
"This multi-sectoral cooperation is essential to effectively confront and eliminate the environmental factors that threaten public health," he concluded.