Launch of the National Health Survey 2018 - AlSaleh: survey outcome indicators will assist in setting future strategies & plans to tackle diseases .. AlQaed: conducting the survey using laptops to save time, ensure data confidentiality & accuracy

Minister of Health H.E. Faeqa bint Saeed AlSaleh stated that the National Health Survey 2018, conducted in collaboration and partnership with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), between February and June, will meet a large part of the needs of the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030. The survey outcomes will enhance the health system by providing accurate population’s health database, that will contribute in measuring health performance indicators, identifying the infectious and non-infectious diseases, utilizing the information and data to prepare strategic plans to cater the health programs and assessing their effectiveness on a national level.

Her Excellency clarified that implementing such strategic project comes in line with the Government Action Plan that aims at providing comprehensive healthcare for all citizens and residents, by offering preventive programs and treatment services. She stressed that survey outcomes provide indicators to set future health strategies in order to tackle diseases, such as identifying population’s health status, risk factors resulting from incorrect diet habits and lack of physical activities as well as assessing the scope of chronic non-infectious diseases like heart, lungs and diabetes diseases, together with assessing the response to the current health systems and future expectations, along with the extent of accessibility and benefit of public to these systems, and estimating the expenditures of healthcare programs.

Moreover, Her Excellency praised the attention given to the health sector by the wise leadership shown amid approving and implementing national policies and initiatives, establishing health infrastructure, developing its systems and training specialized health faculty. This was reflected in the international indicators and reports related to the medical and health care fields, which confirms Bahrain’s keenness to perform the highest international standards.

She also praised the efforts exerted by the Information & eGovernment Authority and its cooperation as main partner in conducting the survey, by preparing electronic survey forms, training the teams, extracting data, and analyzing results. AlSaleh also thanked the collaborating entities such as the Ministry of Interior and other public and private entities, and highlighted the role of committees and assigned teams on the survey project together with their keenness on accomplishing its objectives and making it a success.

Information & eGovernment Authority Chief Executive Mr. Mohamed Ali AlQaed emphasized that the National Health Survey is of high importance amongst the surveys that iGA carries-out, as part of the comprehensive strategy of developing national statistics system in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The survey is a key factor in the development plan for various economy sectors including health, which witnesses a boom in terms of the volume of private sector investments. AlQaed also praised the Ministry of Health’s efforts and cooperation in carrying out this national survey.

“The National Health Survey 2018 required prior preparations such as creating two electronic survey forms, developing the electronic program and install it in the laptops for the field work team for data collection. This pioneering experience will save time and efforts and ensure accuracy and confidentiality of data transferred from the field – making the visits simple, smooth and fast,” stated the Chief Executive while explaining the mechanism of the survey.

The survey aims at largely developing health services, strengthening the health information system in addition to identifying priorities and making an advanced database available to set strategies, as well as national work plans in partnership with all relevant sectors by investing in disease prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles. The project will be carried-out on random samples of 4,000 Bahraini and non-Bahraini households in the Kingdom; targeting 18+ males and females. The survey enables the monitoring and fulfilling of varying information that are available only through field visits.

The survey will be executed by filling the survey form that consist of two questionnaires. The first is revolved around the household and the second concerns the participating individual in the household - comprised questions are associated with the household, individuals living there as well as health expenditures accompanied by questions of the individual’s health condition, risk factors and chronic diseases, in addition to the mother’s and child’s health. The questionnaire also encompasses measurements and medical tests, such as but not limited to, blood pressure, vision examination, height and weight, breathing capacity, blood glucose level, together with blood lipid level of triglyceride and cholesterol while maintaining the confidentiality of personal data.

For more information or enquiries, please visit the national portal on bahrain.bh and enter the ‘Health’ page, or call 17377731.