GCC health archive website launched

An informational website on health matters within the GCC region was launched in Dohae yesterday, contributing to the policy of effective health awareness. The GCC Health Archive website was introduced on sidelines of the GCC Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Awareness Campaign. The archive will have all the information and data base, mainly, awareness and health educational materials being published throughout the GCC countries, contributing to raise the awareness of the society here. "It will help in effective health awareness, provide enhanced hub for awareness and health education, support various other methods of health education and promotion of community awareness about diseases and epidemics," said Jassim Ibrahim Fakhro, Director of Communication and Media at the Supreme Council of Health (SCH). "Added to this, it will unify the efforts and information materials for health education in the GCC, enhance exchange of experiences and knowledge between the GCC countries and strengthen the health works in the region," he said, according to Qatari daily (The Peninsula). The project proposal was brought forward by Qatar during a GCC health ministers’ meeting in Abu Dhabi in 2009. The works for the website was done by SCH in collaboration with strategic partner Al Dar Public Relations. Each country will constantly update articles including media materials on the website - www.gcc-health.org. Currently, the website is available in Arabic though later English version will also be made. Qatar will act as an administrator of the website, managing files and ensuring continuous coordination among all parties and constantly updating of content, whether as print or as visual. Users can search for information based on the title of article, name of the country, date of publication and also according to classification established by GCC states to create awareness.