JEDDAH: More than 50 percent of Saudis are unaware that the Ministry of Health has set up a website on the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, which publishes health guidelines and statistics of those who have died and been infected.
The survey of 19,355 people conducted by the ministry recently found that 23.3 percent of the respondents visited the website regularly, while 26.8 percent said they never visited the site although they were aware of it, according to a report published by a local publication on Thursday.
The ministry’s control and command center has urged members of the public to regularly visit the website, which was set up three years ago. It said that this was important because it could help prevent the spread of the virus.
Hani Al-Issa, a family and community doctor, was quoted as saying that the poll indicated the poor level of medical education among people, not their inability to use technology.
It was vital for the public to use the ministry’s communications platforms, not only for information on MERS, but also on dengue fever, Zika and other viruses, he was quoted as saying.
He said that the global average for people visiting medical awareness websites was 30 percent. “This is one of the reasons for viruses spreading. Such sites provide visitors with information on precautions that must be taken to avoid becoming infected,” he said.
Nuhad Al-Rowaili, a social worker, said the lack of knowledge on how to fight viruses has led to more people becoming infected. She urged all citizens, especially mothers, to become aware of how the virus is spread at schools and hospitals.
Nora Idrees, a student counselor, said her school checks the website constantly. “We depend on this website to get updates first hand, and also communicate with the health department in the Eastern Province to provide our students with information on preventive measures.”
The survey of 19,355 people conducted by the ministry recently found that 23.3 percent of the respondents visited the website regularly, while 26.8 percent said they never visited the site although they were aware of it, according to a report published by a local publication on Thursday.
The ministry’s control and command center has urged members of the public to regularly visit the website, which was set up three years ago. It said that this was important because it could help prevent the spread of the virus.
Hani Al-Issa, a family and community doctor, was quoted as saying that the poll indicated the poor level of medical education among people, not their inability to use technology.
It was vital for the public to use the ministry’s communications platforms, not only for information on MERS, but also on dengue fever, Zika and other viruses, he was quoted as saying.
He said that the global average for people visiting medical awareness websites was 30 percent. “This is one of the reasons for viruses spreading. Such sites provide visitors with information on precautions that must be taken to avoid becoming infected,” he said.
Nuhad Al-Rowaili, a social worker, said the lack of knowledge on how to fight viruses has led to more people becoming infected. She urged all citizens, especially mothers, to become aware of how the virus is spread at schools and hospitals.
Nora Idrees, a student counselor, said her school checks the website constantly. “We depend on this website to get updates first hand, and also communicate with the health department in the Eastern Province to provide our students with information on preventive measures.”
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