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MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011
LOCAL
Cabinet to hold ‘secret session’ KUWAIT: While the cabinet is weighing in on the best way to contain the grilling motions filed against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah, the Popular Action Bloc is also working on garnering support from other lawmakers. According to sources close to the bloc, the lawmakers are currently seeking the support of Dr Ali Al-Omair, Mohammad Al-Mutairi and Hassan Jowhar. The sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity indicated that the bloc is trying to mend their fences with the fellow opposition National Action Bloc. On the other hand, the cabinet seems to be more likely to go with the option of having the premier’s grilling debated in a ‘secret session’. According to sources, the cabinet has been told that a plan to delay the grilling could backfire. This could be seen by political spectators as a means to hinder lawmaker’s ability to utilize their constitutional tools. The ‘secret session’ option seems more likely as the cabinet already has a majority in the parliament to enforce this option and to insure that the premier overcomes a no-cooperation motion. Meanwhile, the former speaker of the National Assembly Ahmad Al-Saadoun has criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly sending the grilling motion to the Constitutional Court. The veteran lawmaker explained while speaking during a recent seminar that the premier considered this option “at the time he encourages his ministers to face their grillings”. Meanwhile, MP Naji Al-Abdulhadi said he fully endorsed the grilling after reading its articles. — Rai
MoH holds talks with Johns Hopkins hospital KUWAIT: The Health Ministry is presently holding talks with the management of Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, USA to govern four Kuwaiti hospitals: the Amiri, Farwaniya, Adan and Jahra. The announcement was made by Dr Qais Al-Duwairi, Health Ministry ’s Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Services Affairs. These hospitals will be provided with technical support, information systems, laboratories, radiology departments, patient safety and quality control in addition to upgrading work policies in other technical departments like Casualty, Anesthesia and Operation. Al-Duwairi added that as part of the agreement, doctors will be sent for training and fellowship to various specialized US hospitals to gain more experience, reported aljarida. He also noted that the Johns Hopkins University officials were keen on boosting relations with Kuwait and had shown complete readiness to provide assistance. He also added that the ministry had contacted a European center to set up a physiotherapy hospital.
MPs slam Syrian embassy’s claims KUWAIT: Kuwaiti lawmakers and activists have expressed disappointment at claims made by the Syrian embassy stating that humanitarian aid sent to the country was sponsored by organizations that had hidden a agenda. A statement released by the embassy states that the convoy which was to embark from Kuwait yesterday (Sunday) en route to the troubled Daraa City in Syria, was an ‘unnecessary’ move, reported Al-Rai. It hinted that Syria never asked for humanitarian relief, and that the people of Daraa do not need such aid, even going as far as to accuse the parties behind this campaign as “those who have personal interests at heart.” In response to the accusations, Kuwaiti MP, Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said that the convoy will embark on its journey as planned, “disregarding statements made by representative of the Syrian Baath regime.” Meanwhile, fellow Islamist lawmaker Mohammad Hayef explained that the food and medical supplies will be distributed “to break the oppression that the people of Daraa has been subjected to.” Bassam Al-Ghanim, Head of Public Committee for Solidarity with Arab Nations drew similarities between the embassy’s statement and the “forgery of facts that as portrayed by the media of Saddam’s regime [in Iraq].”
Disabled citizens urged to report assaults to police KUWAIT: The chairman of the Public Authority for the Human Disabilities Affairs has urged disabled citizens who are be subjected to any form of assault, to make their complaints with the relevant authorities instead of seeking help from the media. Dr Jassem Al-Tammar commented on recent incidents in which disabled people contacted TV stations and complained of assaults by the Authority’s personnel. “Such complaints made on the air or through the press lack credibility”, Al-Tammar said, insisting that no violations were committed by the Authority’s personnel ever since he assumed his office. Meanwhile, he added that there have been five cases filed by some of the personnel officers against some disabled individuals who assaulted them physically and verbally. “It’s unfair to label [the Authority’s] staff as being hostile towards disabled citizens without hearing from both sides”, Al-Tammar added, reiterating that thorough investigations during which testimonies from both parties involved should be made regarding these assault cases.
Central Bank to write off 3 investment firms KUWAIT: Well-informed sources said that Kuwait Central Bank is about to write off three investment firms for violating professional standards. The sources added that the losses of one of the three firms had increased by 49 percent to reach KD5.44 million.
KUWAIT: Alhashimiya Saleh Abu Sabra (center) and some officers/attendees of HIKMA Pharmaceuticals seminar held at the Holiday Inn Salmiya. — Photos by Joseph Shagra
Seminar held on IVF treatment, thrombosis By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Diminished blood supply to the uterus is a common cause for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) pregnancy failure, a medical doctor said. Speaking at a seminar held at Holiday Inn Salmiya recently, organized by HIKMA pharmaceuticals, Dr Najat Rooh Al-Deen Consultant Hematologist at AlSabah Maternity Hospital said that such pregnancy failures can be attributed to thrombosis-the blood clot that forms within a blood vessel. “Much information has been published that confirms the veracity of the previous research; many are from the UK which connects failure of IVF pregnancy to thrombosis with a high risk factor for women with advancing age,” she said. Patients with thrombosis condition according to Dr Najat, can now be treated accordingly with the help of prophylactic medicines, but treatment is administered
Dr Najat Rooh Al-Deen
Dr Khaldoun Al-Sharif
depending on whether thrombophilia is acquired or inherited. “For proper medical treatment, I advised patients to always consult hematologist doctors so as to provide accurate doses,” she said. Dr Najat also spoke about Thrombophilia Risk Management Assessment and how doctors handle patients with thrombosis con-
dition. Dr Khaldoun Al-Sharif from Jordan, a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and the Clinical Director of Istishari Fertility Center, also discussed thrombosis, demonstrating results obtained from a recent study conducted on 273 patients, with cases of recurrent implantation failure.
Dr Khaldoun who has extensive experience in the field and has authored several publications in the UK, noted that when goodquality embryos are repeatedly transferred over a number cycles, many do not become pregnant. This has emerged as a challenging and highly controversial issue in modern IVF practice. Details of this study was published in reproductive biomedicine online, authored by Dr Sharif. It can be accessed at www.jordanivf.com. Dr Waleed Al-Jassar, Chairman of OBGYN, GYN Oncologist in Kuwait also attended the seminar. HIKMA Pharmaceuticals is a leading pharmaceutical company located in the MENA region. It manufactures branded and non-branded, generic and in-licensed pharmaceutical products. HIKMA plants are FDA and European approved and distributed all over USA, Europe and the Middle East and North African region.
Simple mistake shatters dreams of Jordanian Student faces US visa problems By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: People do make mistakes and bear the consequences. This simple mistake however could cause one his or her future. Mohammad Ayoub, a Jordanian student who has been studying in the United States for the past three years, narrated his ordeal. Ayoub claimed he has been a good student without any bad records for three straight years until last academic year,
when his father fell ill. This according to him, made him so worried and unfocused. “I was eagerly waiting for the Christmas break so as to go back and see my father. When Fall Semester ended, I immediately rushed to Kuwait without registering for the Spring Semester and my I-20 form wasn’t signed. It was unintentional,” he claimed, adding that he had not imagined for a moment that it could put him in trouble. After the break, he went back to the US
on Jan 9, 2011. On his arrival, the immigration officer told him that his I-20 wasn’t signed. They called the university’s international advisor, but he told the immigration officers that Ayoub did not register for the Spring Semester and there is no seat available for him. “They canceled my visa and deported me back to Kuwait,” he added. However Ayoub noted that since then, he has been trying to secure a new study visa but to no avail. “I have applied four times
but my applications were rejected,” he said. When reached for comment, Rachel Mikeska, the Press Attache at the Kuwait’s US Embassy said the embassy does not comment on individual visa applications. “I am about to graduate, why do I have to wait for months just to get a new visa?” he queried in dismay. “My goal is clear and my intention is to just get a degree. I want to go back to America and complete my studies,” he said.