AN official from the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for more collaboration between the health and energy sectors in the Gulf region in order to prevent and reduce public health risks directly related to oil production and development. Dr. Qudsia Huda, technical officer for emergency preparedness and health risk reduction at WHO's regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean, said risk assessment and partnerships are key to reducing health concerns attributed to the oil and gas sector, while previous regional industrial disasters can provide valuable lessons in managing health risks. Dr. Huda will be a headline speaker at the 8th Annual HSE Forum in Energy, taking place on Oct. 8-10 at the Doha Grand Hyatt Hotel, where she will address delegates on the importance of bridging the gaps between the health and energy sectors to prevent and reduce associated public health risks in the Gulf region. “Based on real time assessment of public health risks prevailing in oil and gas producing areas, the health and energy sectors need to come together to raise awareness and advocate the issue to safeguard people's health," said Huda. “Both sectors can work together to develop policy guidelines to specify the roles and responsibilities of each entity in averting health problems, and integrating these at national levels by generating intelligence. Risk assessment and building optimum capacities are very critical areas where health and energy sectors can work together." Health impacts believed to be linked to oil development activities in the Gulf region include respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, auto-immune diseases, liver failure, cancer, skin diseases and other ailments such as headaches, nausea and sleeplessness. “There are health risks to workers in the oil and gas industries, as well as communities in which oil development is continuing," she added. – SG
