QNA
Doha

A senior Qatari official said yesterday that a new health strategy is in the offing for labourers and employees in Qatar.
The director of the Public Health Department in the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, said that they were already working on the new strategy.
The strategy is in partnership with a German company and will be launched later this year.
He said that the SCH’s  move was part of its continuous efforts to make Qatar one of the best countries in the world in terms of work environment and living and health standards.
He noted that death rates among labour in Qatar, as well as injuries, were among the lowest in the world.
He said that even some developed countries had a much higher rate.
“Furthermore, the rate of injuries in the workplace in Qatar has been lowering with each year due to the state’s efforts, making sure all safety regulations are being followed in the work place.”
He also noted that most of the deaths among labourers were the result of heart attacks that took place outside the work place. The  majority of foreign workers, it was noted, are from areas of high latitude which lacks  oxygen and so they could be more susceptible to heart attacks.
Talking about an occupational safety and health conference that the council will hold,  the director said that Qatar had been witnessing an unprecedented economic growth which naturally increased the amount of working force. “As a result, the state is keen to maintain a healthy and efficient working force.”
Qatar Red Crescent secretary-general Saleh al-Muhannadi spoke of the importance of the conference and stressed that they would take part in it. He added that the Red Crescent had dozens of health programmes that would be of benefit to citizens and expatriates alike.
He added that raising awareness on health played a role in supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.