Workshop on National Strategy for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases Begins in Muscat

Muscat: The development workshop for the preparation of the National Strategy for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases commenced today. The workshop is organized by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, with broad participation from relevant national entities. According to Oman News Agency, the workshop, which runs until 24 September at the InterCity Hotel Muscat, aims to prepare a national strategy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, strengthen the health system in the Sultanate of Oman, and realize the targets of sustainable development. The workshop includes reviewing the objective and scope of work, explaining the methodology for describing initiatives and projects, and aligning the pillar teams with the supporting enablers, in preparation for developing priority initiatives and converting them into actionable implementation plans. The workshop focuses on six main pillars, namely tobacco control; promotion of healthy nutrition, p hysical activity, and mental health; early detection programmes for non-communicable diseases; and activation of the national framework for monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation, along with the supporting enablers of legislation, guiding policies, financing, communication and media, and community partnerships. The workshop is organized in two main phases. The first week focuses on developing and describing the proposed initiatives and projects and aligning the pillars with the enablers, culminating in the review and endorsement of outputs by the technical committee. The second week is dedicated to preparing detailed implementation plans for the approved initiatives, completing and reviewing them, and making necessary amendments in accordance with the observations of the quality control team. The workshop is expected to conclude with outputs including initiative and project description cards, a final approved list of high-impact initiatives, and detailed plans specifying the implementation and follow-up traj ectory for the forthcoming phase.