The Anesthesiology Department in the King Abdulaziz Medical City MNG-HA - Western Region launched the 2017 Anesthesia Awareness Campaign entitled "What is your role in a sound recovery after anesthesia?". This campaign aims at educating members of the community in the specialty of anesthesia and its importance in facilitating a lot of surgical procedures, intracranial radiotherapy and during endoscopy, as well as enhancing the important role of the patient to avoid complications during the sedation period, and explaining the role of the patient in returning to his or her normal life as soon as possible in a completely safe manner.
Moreover, the campaign also covered topics such as anesthesia fears and misconceptions, types of anesthesia and how to treat chronic pain, anesthesia, and the most common diseases and how to deal with them during anesthesia, how to avoid or minimize its side-effects. In addition to moving forward towards (the Saudi Vision 2030) to raise the level of awareness amongst community members about the importance of controlling chronic diseases through appropriate diet, physical activity and the role of primary healthcare centers.
Dr. Essam Al-Zmaiti, Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of National Guard, opened in the presence of the Director of Anesthesiology Department Dr. Maan Qattan, Campaign awareness clinics Center with the participation of many of the relevant authorities. Dr. Essam Al-Zmaiti, Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services at MNG-HA, inaugurated the medical exhibition accompanying the awareness campaign alongside the Director of Anesthesia Department Dr. Maan Qattan at the Ambulatory clinics center with the participation of several relevant authorities.
In addition, Dr. Haifa Kayal, an Anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor at KSAU-HS -Jeddah, said that this year's campaign covers two main subjects: anesthesia types such as general anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, and the second topic focuses on the relationship of anesthesia and common diseases, mental illnesses, cases of hypertension, diabetes, and the big role the pre-anesthesia clinic plays. Dr. Haifa also pointed out that campaign was held in collaboration with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
Additionally, Dr. Haifa explained that the Organizing Committee was keen to set up the activities of this campaign in conjunction with the date in which the ether was discovered as a surgical anesthetic in 1846 by William Morten, which revolutionized the world of anesthesia and marked the 16th of October as an International Day of Anesthesia.