Beginning November 15, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry will launch a new electronic service to authenticate certificates of origin.

To save time and effort and to avoid the hassle of going to the KCCI building or its branches, the KCCI has invited its members to make use of the electronic services available through its website ekcci.org.kw.

The head of the orthopedic department at the Farwaniya Hospital, Dr. Khaled Al-Enezi said the hospital will soon start using a robotic device to replace the artificial knee joints, saying this is the first government hospital in Kuwait to offer this service, reports Al- Jarida daily. He pointed out that the orthopedic department at Farwaniya Hospital is the first department to introduce robots in joint replacement surgery in government hospitals in Kuwait.

Al-Enezi announced, in a press statement, the opening of quality clinics in the orthopedic department at Farwaniya Hospital, such as the spine unit and the upper limb unit, at the end of this year or early next year. He stressed that the new robotic device is superior to traditional surgeries in terms of accuracy, extending the life span of the artificial joint, balancing the joint, and helping the patient leave the hospital in a short time. He added that workshops were organized for the department’s workers to train them on how to deal with the new device, and to familiarize doctors with it.

Al-Enezi explained that the robotic “robot” is characterized by great accuracy in improving surgical operations, as it will enable to see the joints in three dimensions before cutting the joint, and it also helps the patient to return quickly to his normal life, stressing that the introduction of this device represents a qualitative addition to the health system in Kuwait.

 The supervisor of the family nursery in the social care homes affiliated to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Iman Al-Enezi, said Kuwait’s experience in approving the step of the “surrogate mother” in embracing orphans of the homes over the past 8 years has been successful and has effectively contributed to increasing educational attainment and emotional stability of orphaned children, reports Al-Qabas daily. She added, six surrogate mothers who were chosen with great care to take care of the orphan children. Before given the task of taking care of the children, they underwent personal interviews and psychological assessment tests, to identify their ability to keep pace with the lives of children in nurseries, and their potential to embody their positive role as surrogate mothers.

Al-Enezi said: “We have observed many positives about the presence of surrogate mothers, over the past eight years, as they are currently raising 22 children in what she called ‘independent’ homes within the Children’s Home Department equipped with all necessities required to help them live next to the children.” She stated that among the positive aspects of their presence is raising the level of children’s educational attainment in schools, expanding the perceptions of assimilation and intelligence, in addition to introducing them to the customs and traditions of the Kuwaiti society and the ability to communicate with others and help them realize their future dreams.

Al-Enezi pointed out that the surrogate mothers spend most days of the week with the children of the home, and each surrogate mother takes in about 6 children around the clock for 5 days and goes out on vacation for two days. She pointed out that the surrogate mothers are real mothers for the children of the home and provide them with full care, kindness and tenderness and pride the children all they lack and support them psychologically, morally, socially, educationally and healthily.

Conditions
Al-Enezi stated that one of the conditions for choosing surrogate mothers is that they should not be less than 35 years old, should be of Kuwaiti, Gulf nationality or ‘bedoun’, in order to master teaching children Kuwaiti customs and traditions and the correct local dialect, and to have a high minimum high school certificate and practical experience in Childcare or similar education.

She said that the “surrogate mother” is an important project that has a clear imprint on the development of children’s skills, and “many parties have supported the project financially over the past years, the most important of which is the Awqaf Secretariat, which supported the project’s budget and ensured the payment of its rewards and the salaries of the surrogate mothers.” Al-Enezi explained that the family nursery provides children in the care homes a variety of different services that meet all their needs, starting with playgrounds, hand games, educational boards, the theater, in addition to the cinema hall. She pointed out that nurseries contain a group of equipped and private homes for each surrogate mother and her children, including a set of rooms and contents that any family provides for their children.

Advantages of implementing the idea include raising the educational and academic achievement of children, high level of societal awareness of children providing moral support and social and psychological care although the Civil Service Commission has not yet given a job title for the surrogate mothers. In order to overcome the issue and achieve the best results for children in care homes, the General Secretariat of Awqaf financially supported the surrogate mother project, providing the required needs and the monthly salaries of female workers within the project due to its importance.

Emergency Team Leader for the Capital Governorate in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Hamid Al- Dhafiri has confirmed the implementation of stricter rules to prevent market manipulation, in coordination with the concerned authorities; to protect consumers, refer violators to the authorities and control prices, reports Al-Qabas daily. Al-Dhafiri told the daily that the quantities of fish traded in Souk Sharq determine the selling prices for various types, as well as the law of supply and demand and fish seasons. He affirmed the ministry’s teams are working hard to uncover violations, especially commercial fraud and unjustified price hikes.

He added Sharq Fish Market conducts two auctions daily – at dawn for importers and after the afternoon prayer for local traders – under the supervision of teams from the ministry, Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, and Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources with the aim of preventing fraud or anomalies in the auction.

Around 40 percent of type II diabetes patients, and 30 percent of type I patients are likely to develop Chronic Kidney Disease, stated Internal Medicine and Nephrology consultant, and President of Kuwait Nephrology Association (KNA) Dr. Anas Al-Yousef on Sunday. Dr. Al-Yousef, speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), explained that the disease is detected through finding protein in urine samples, which reveals decreased kidney efficiency to around 60 percent. 

To avoid such complications, Al- Yousef explained on occasion of the World Diabetes Day tomorrow, patients of diabetes should maintain low sugar levels in blood and take their prescribed medication. He commented that a 2021 International Diabetes Federation logged 537 million adult type II patients, and by 2045, Al-Yousef added, number of patients is expected to rise to 783 million. Al-Yousef also revealed that within the past few years medication with the ability to decrease kidney complications, reduce urine protein as well as total kidney failure has been developed, mentioning that such medication is available in Kuwait’s medical centers. (KUNA)

Authorities are preparing a new residency law and new mechanisms to grant visit visas and residency permits, local daily Kuwait Times reported. Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah will attend a meeting by end of this month to finalize the procedures, the report added.

Amendments to visit visas will be issued in January. All the visa fee will be doubled or tripled. The categories who will be able to obtain will be reduced from the current list of categories.

Strict security campaigns will continue against residency violators. Areas with large expatriate population will be isolated for strict security checking to nab all violators, it added.

 The Italian Ambassador to Kuwait, HE Carlo Balducci, announced that Kuwait will receive the fourth batch of Eurofighter planes within weeks, reports Al-Qabas daily. In response to a question by Al-Qabas daily during a press conference held at his residence on the occasion of the launch of the activities of the Italian Cultural Season 2022-2023, Balducci said: “Last September, Kuwait received the third batch of Eurofighter planes, and added the military cooperation between the two countries is going well.”

Balducci pointed out that there is a great demand from Kuwaitis to visit Italy, pointing out that the consular section issued about 25,000 visas during 2022, which indicates that Italy is one of the popular destinations for many. He explained that the procedures for issuing a visa are very simple and do not take long, pointing to the continuation of cooperation with Kuwait in various fields.

Regarding health cooperation, Balducci indicated that he met the Minister of Health, and pointed out that there is a proposal to implement a project for a center for the treatment of Thalassemia in Kuwait. He indicated Italy is distinguished in the treatment of this disease. He added that the Italian mission to excavate antiquities in Failaka will return to Kuwait early next year, specifically in January, to resume its work after a long pause due to the corona pandemic, stressing that cooperation in the field of archaeological explorations is one of the most important factors of cultural exchange. He indicated that the Italian archaeological mission has made great achievements in the pre-corona period.

Returning to the occasion, Balducci said that 10 Italian publishing houses have decided to display their books in the Italian pavilion that was established for this occasion at the Mishref exhibition grounds building, in cooperation with the Italian Trade Agency, in addition to books about the beauty of Italy. He added, “Free Italian language lessons for children and adults will be held at the Kuwait National Library, through the agreement concluded by the embassy with the Cultural Center, which provides courses to learn languages in Kuwait, including the Italian language.” He continued, “Many of the major hotel restaurants in Kuwait will celebrate these important events, by preparing special menus of the traditional Italian gastronomy, the success of which spreads widely in Kuwait during the week of Italian cuisine in the world, which takes place during the same period.”

The Bachelors Committee in the Judicial Control Team of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy continues its campaigns to cut off power supply to residential apartments which are being leased out to bachelors in the so-called model residential areas, reports Al-Anba daily. Deputy Head of the committee Ahmed Al-Shammari said authorities cut off power supply to more than 100 such properties in the Farwaniya Governorate during the past month, after taking all measures and issuing warning notices by the Ministry of Interior and the Kuwait municipality and giving ample time for the owners of these properties to rectify the situation and evict the bachelors.

Al-Shammari pointed out that the campaigns were carried out in coordination with the distribution networks sector of the Ministry of Electricity and Water during which the committee monitored several negative phenomena that posed a security, health and social threat to families. The complaints were filed by citizens living in these areas. In a related context, Al-Shammari said that the team since the beginning of this month has issued 10 citations to owners of properties in the governorates of Jahra and Farwaniya related to infringements on power and water networks (illegal connections and theft of power supply and water).

Al-Shammari warned real estate owners of the need to follow up on the affairs of their properties to avoid violations and cut off the power, resulting in penal measures due to the presence of bachelors, as well as in new properties under construction, which tampering with the electricity and water network by employees working for companies or building guards during construction work, which results in cutting off the power to the facility. On the other hand, Al-Shammari announced a surprise campaign in the suburb of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh resulted in power cut supply to five properties.

Al-Qabas daily has learned that the Kuwait National Petroleum Company has terminated its contracts to build 26 fuel stations, including 7 which were to be demolished and rebuilt due to the contractors’ shortcomings and failure to obtain the necessary government licenses, reports Al-Qabas daily.

Sources said that the company is currently working on reviewing and approving the final plans in accordance with the requirements of the concerned government agencies to build these 26 fuel stations as a first stage, and then 15 stations in the second stage, where the company is said to have started the design work through a consulting office, as approvals are obtained and the necessary licenses are obtained. It is at the heart of the consulting office’s work.

The sources explained that the company seeks to investigate accuracy in distributing designs and supervision tasks in future projects, provided that it is among more than one consulting office, in addition to selecting engineering offices that have the expertise necessary to perform these works. The sources stated that the implementation work of the designs of the 40 petrol filling stations — 15 stations included in the second package and 25 in the third package.

According to the company’s strategic plan, the implementation of its designs was delayed due to the failure to obtain the necessary permits from various government agencies, which disrupted all construction work and the operation of these stations, which was reflected in the strategic plan of the company in building and establishing these stations.

The sources added that the KNPC has developed a strategic plan for the year 2030 to build 100 new fuel stations and renovate 43 stations to meet the needs of the local market and to cover urban expansion and new residential areas. Meanwhile, a sudden electricity blackout took place Friday at Mina Abdullah Refinery without causing any impact on either output or export operations, the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) said.

According to reports, the Ministry of Health (MoH) plans to shift at least part of the work involved in medical examinations of new expat workers to the private sector due to ongoing overcrowding at approved centers.

It is reported that the ministry is currently studying the mechanisms and methodologies involved in linking with the private sector, including regulatory mechanisms and service fees. Once the necessary regulatory provisions are decided and put in place, the ministry and other relevant government entities will announce a call for bids from the private sector.

According to MoH sources, privatizing expat health examinations would ease the burden on government health facilities, reduce the wait time for expats to get appointments, and improve the quality of results.

In addition, this would accelerate the detection of infectious diseases among patients, as these diseases threaten Kuwait's health security, and is in line with the ministry's vision to develop and advance Kuwait's health system.

To provide the service, the private sector would need to administer the examinations through centers approved by the MoH, based on required specifications and standards. By implementing strict control standards, the ministry will also ensure the accuracy of the test results.

According to an Arab daily, the Jahra Governorate Committee of the Municipal Council approved the allocation of three sites west of Hajjaj City in northern Jahra for the development of expatriate housing complexes. An invitation was sent to four government agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the State Property Administration, in order to establish the project. Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport requested the creation of a rainwater collection basin in the Amghara area on Muharraq Road, which connects the Sixth Ring Road and Jahra Road.

During Tuesday's meeting, the committee referred the proposal of member Fahd Al-Abduljader on setting up a special headquarters in Al-Mutlaa to monitor the work of contractors in the construction field to the Reform and Development Committee. Further, the committee reviewed the request of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to approve the height of buildings at colleges and institutes in Jahra.

A major transfer station site was requested by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy in the Abdali Farms as well as a water filling station as an alternative to the existing station, contrary to the Kuwait Medical City project of the Public Institution for Social Security in East Amghara.

 The ministries of Interior and Commerce and Industry are reviewing the decision to stop issuing licenses to delivering consumer orders and logistics services, and to resume work on issuing new licenses, reports Al- Qabas daily. Note that the issuance of licenses for the delivery of consumer orders has been suspended for 4 years, by the Ministry of Interior, as it is the body responsible for the final approval of the issuance of this type of commercial license, Informed sources told Al-Qabas several meetings held during the past few weeks that included representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Commerce to review stopping of issuance of commercial licenses to deliver consumer orders again.

The sources pointed out that there are two points of view in this regard the first supports the return of issuing licenses with strict controls, provided that it is limited to those registered under “Chapter Five” at the Public Institute for Social Security and other specific categories.

The Ministry of Health is preparing for a new round with the judiciary after Dr. Ghanem Al-Hujailan, a consultant of internal and viral diseases at Adan Hospital, filed an official complaint against the former minister of Health, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, and others on charges of corruption of the PCR contracts signed during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In a series of “tweets” posted on his Twitter account, Dr. Al-Hujailan said, “To complement the national position, I filed a complaint against the former minister, the undersecretary, and others against the background of corruption in the PCR contracts that showed the use of expired materials. The complaints in previous cases were referred to the Ministers Trial Committee.”

While appreciating the position of the Public Prosecutor, Dr. Al-Hujailan addressed His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf by saying, “Unfortunately, we tried to reach your Highness to present the issue of corruption’s appropriation of state funds and other crimes, with proven documents… but you did not respond.”

Dr. Al-Hujailan had referred to a number of violations recorded by the Ministry of Health during the COVID-19 crisis.

He affirmed in October that the Cuban team that “came to help” had paid each doctor among its members KD 10,000 per month.

Dr. Hujailan said, “I wish this had ended, but experimental drugs were used on patients… this is something new!”

Concerning the same issue, he revealed that he went to the Public Prosecution and submitted a report to the Attorney General with the documents he had on the COVID-19 related deaths. He said, “Of course it is known who the former minister and his deputy is. I do not neglect the report of the Cuban team, which was a catastrophe, about causing some deaths by using experimental drugs. I will give my testimony once I get summoned. The files of all COVID-19 deaths will be opened soon.”

 The Ministry of Interior will start implementing the iris, face, hand scanning and electronic signature procedures at Kuwait International Airport and the borders early next year in a bid to prevent deportees, including those involved in forgery, from returning to the country, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources from the security sector.

Sources confirmed the above mentioned procedures will take effect upon completion of the supply, installation and testing of devices.

Sources added the Borders, Forensic Evidence and Information Systems departments are currently coordinating their efforts to start the operation of these advanced devices; affirming the devices have high efficiency rates, and are accredited in most airports and borders throughout the world.

The Employment Examination Center in the exhibition grounds in Mishref will receive transactions and conduct tests, as well as speed up the completion of expats' residency procedures.

According to the Arab daily, the said center is better equipped to serve expats than other centers like Shuwaikh and Sabhan, especially during March and June, when workers, sponsors, and company representatives crowded the center after Coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted and workers could return to the country.

Mishref's Center for Expatriate Workers can examine about 1,000 cases a day, but it completes 500 transactions a day. As the center was opened in late June to relieve pressure on other centers, the movement of auditors in it has been supervised by the center's officials since the first working hours, as the center is capable of accepting approximately 1,000 cases a day. Coronavirus restrictions have caused a rise in examination demand in recent years compared to the previous two years.

In one hall, there are ten registration points for auditors, a waiting room with air conditioning for 500 people, four x-ray rooms, and 20 blood testing clinics. Furthermore, approximately 160 professionals work at the center, including a doctor, nurse, radiology technician, and administrator, over a 12-hour period and in two shifts, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Citizens are allowed to enter the center with their workers without an appointment provided that the escort is the worker's sponsor.

Five labor examination centers in Shuwaikh, Sabhan, Mushrif, Jahra and Ali Sabah Al-Salem receive between 3,500 and 4,000 cases per day, easing the queues and crowds in early summer. Although the number of employees doubled in mid-March, the ministry was able to reduce waiting times for lab results and improve organizational development. The Jahra Health Center and Jahra Hospital 2 centers were transferred to the old outpatient clinics on 10 October, with six rooms for blood testing, malaria and vaccination, and four reception counters.

To alleviate pressure on other centers, the ministry also recommended establishing new labor examination centers in other regions. At the center, there are 1000 cases per day and a total capacity of 1000, 500 examinations and treatments, 500 waiting rooms, 160 medical, nursing, and administrative personnel, 20 clinics for blood testing, 10 for scoring reviewers, and 4 x-ray rooms.

A 20% increase in the efficiency of blood test rooms is also a priority for the MOH, as is increasing the efficiency of x-ray rooms and increasing the number of workers in all departments. Ministry plans to utilize some of the sites previously designated for dealing with the Coronavirus crisis, including the field hospital in Mishref that was converted into an exam center, proved successful. As a result of the plan, the expatriate or sponsor avoided being fined and the exams were completed quickly.

In September, Kuwait ranked tenth globally and fourth in the Arab world and the Gulf in terms of internet speed using a mobile phone, with an average speed of 95.04 megabytes per second, according to the speed test website. The ranking of Kuwait fell two places compared to last month, while Saudi Arabia moved up only one position.

Kuwait ranked 20th in global internet speed using fixed broadband, with 112.5 megabytes per second, and second in the Arab world behind the UAE, which ranked first and 12th globally. 

 The number of houses in Kuwait has reached about 159,000, which constitutes 74.76 percent of the total of 213,000 buildings scattered in various governorates, reports Al-Rai daily. According to data received from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), 140,000 homes are designated for housing, 102,200 for housing and commercial, and 1,170 for commercial.

The number of vacant homes in Kuwait is 6,922. There are about 3,800 temporary buildings, 1,600 buildings under construction, and 35,300 other buildings classified under other items. According to the latest statistics of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), the number of housing requests amounted to about 94,900.

The cost of maintaining security devices for detecting deportees is estimated at KD228,500, reports Al-Anba daily.

The Ministry of Interior has requested approval from supervisory authorities for direct contracting (contract number 18/2021-2022) for the maintenance of security devices to detect deportees through fingerprinting at Kuwait Airways building (T4) under the Criminal Evidence General Department.  The ministry added that the project will be implemented in two phases.

Government institutions have begun preparing for next February's national holidays, as directed by His Highness the Prime Minister.

According to a local Arabic newspaper, the Council of Ministers has assigned the Tourism Projects Company to organize, prepare, and hold celebrations during national holidays. This is in coordination with government agencies.

Tourism Enterprises Company members, members of the Interior, Defense, Health, Media, Education, Social Affairs ministries, PAM, and Kuwait Municipality have formed a coordinating committee.

Government agencies have been directed to communicate with the TEC and coordinate celebration activities with the festival requirements.

In preparation for camping season and cooler weather, volunteer response and rescue teams prepare to offer assistance to those in need. Assist sea and desert goers in case of trouble, clean beaches, organize traffic, and assist in the search for missing personnel through these fast-responding teams. All members of these teams confirmed their readiness to provide the necessary services to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Mohammad Al-Hajri, head of Kuwait's Sqour Al-Sabah rescue team, commented that the team helps with vehicle lifting in the desert and at the beach, and provides assistance to state bodies during crises such as the Coronavirus pandemic or heavy rains.

In addition to stating that they are prepared for such conditions, Al-Hajri added that they possess heavy-duty equipment of all types. Currently, the team is made up of 30 volunteers, whose phone numbers can be found on the team's social media accounts. According to Al-Hajri, voluntary work strengthens social solidarity and topples the culture of no work without profit. Rakan Al-Hamad, Head of Kuwaiti Response and Rescue team, told KUNA that the idea for the team was sparked when they noticed the hiked-up price of towing winches, which could reach KD 50 in remote areas.

According to Al-Hamad, his team can not only assist vehicles but also provide first aid and help animals, as well as organize first aid training courses and green initiatives. Those who are 18 and older and possess a vehicle can join the team, provided they undergo an interview process and are able to supply the necessary equipment. Additionally, all new members are given a training course to prepare them for the work ahead. Al-Hamad praised voluntary work as an exemplary way to spend free time, since it benefits youth and society at large.