A clinical pharmacist and member of the Friends of Health Association, Dr. Layla Al -Aali The Ashura season in the Kingdom of Bahrain represents a great faith and spiritual opportunity, but at the same time requires a high health awareness, especially from the owners of chronic diseases and the weaker health groups, such as the elderly, heart patients, cancer and diabetes, calling for a health and pharmaceutical instructions plan to ensure safety during “Ashura”.
She added that with the advent of the days of Ashura, people in Bahrain are flocking to revive Ashura in a faith and spiritual atmosphere, in light of what is characterized by Bahrain, in light of the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, the country’s great privacy and freedom, where these ceremonies are held in a spirit of order and peace, and with integrated efforts between the official and community authorities.
She continued that the Ministry of Health attaches this season special attention, by raising awareness and providing the necessary health and pharmaceutical guidelines, to secure a safe participation in Ashura atmosphere, stressing that the ministry is working to coordinate with the various parties to ensure an organized health environment.
And Dr. Layla Al -Alia is that one of the most prominent things to be alert is the regularity of taking medications, noting that some patients may lose sight of their medications at their dates due to preoccupation with rituals, which may cause serious health complications, such as a decrease or high levels of sugar in diabetics, or exposure to stress and high blood pressure in heart patients.
She warned that the patients should be accompanied by their medicine during participation, and to make sure to drink sufficient quantities of water, especially in light of the high temperatures.
The pharmacist stressed the importance of being careful to respiratory infection, as mass groups are an ideal environment for the spread of influenza and colds, calling for wearing masks in crowded places, using sterilizers regularly, and avoiding the participation of personal tools, while refraining from participating in the event of symptoms such as fever or coughing.
She emphasized the importance of consulting a doctor for those who take blood medications such as warfarin and ebexaban, or hemophilia and cancer patients, before engaging in rituals that may cause bleeding or serious complications.
She pointed out that taking preventive vaccines is one of the effective means in reducing the risk of infection, pointing out that the most important of these vaccines: seasonal influenza vaccine, tetanus vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccine, especially for participants in service processions or activities that include the use of sharp tools.
The pharmacist warned against negligence in dealing with the foods presented in the processions, stressing the need to ensure the safety and storage of food in a correct way, to reduce the cases of food poisoning that may appear in the form of diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain, calling for a doctor immediately in the event of symptoms.
With regard to the fasting people, the pharmacist called for the instructions of the Ministry of Health published through its platforms, about the correct way to take medications during fasting, taking into account the health condition of the patient and fasting together.
She concluded that the preservation of the soul is worship, and that adherence to health guidelines does not contradict the atmosphere of revival, but rather reflects deep awareness and faith, stressing that “participation does not mean risk, and love does not mean harming the soul.”
