Geographical Locations - Bahrain

• (Statistical) Number of Inhabitants per Doctor: 953
• CIA World Factbook : Bahrain

Organisations and Networks

UN and Multinational

• WHO
  - WHO Country Profile - Bahrain
  - WHO - Tobacco control: Country Profile - Bahrain
  - WHO - Environmental Burden of Disease: Country Profile – Bahrain
• WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) in Alexandria (Egypt)
• UNDP in Bahrain

Government

• Bahrain Government
• Ministry of Health
• Directorate of Public Health

Non-Government

Academic Institutions

National Policy and Related Documents

• Bahrain Health Strategy: Framework for Action, 2002-2010
  "The Bahrain Health Strategy provides the framework within which various entities across the health sector will operate. It identifies priorities and highlights major issues affecting the quality and performance of health care delivery in Bahrain. It aims to ensure that all efforts are directed toward continuous improvement and development of health systems. It was developed following the scientific process of strategic planning involving Ministry of Health staffs at different levels, as well as various stakeholders, in defining the vision for the future."
• Health Information and Communication Technology Strategy: Health Services Without Walls
  "The Ministry [of Health] has… set out six core principles: "accessibility, affordability, appropriateness, accountability, accreditation and acceptability "(Ministry of Health Direction, 2002). The foundation for these core principles is through the commitment and implementation of an evidence-based management that requires a total restructuring and redevelopment of its information and automation strategies and systems. The Ministry of Health Information Systems Project (MHIS) was initiated in June 2000 to define these strategies and systems, and identify a partner that would re-engineer and modernize the current environment to a knowledge managed health system. Information Technology (IT) and Information Management Systems (IMS) have a central role as an enabler in the healthcare business and the ministry recognizes that it requires a sophisticated IT system to maintain and improve the quality of service in the most cost effective manner."
• National Strategies for Prevention of Blindness
• Primary Care Public Health - Strategic Development - In Arabic

Reports, Guidelines, and Projects

• Guideline on Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Influenza) Preparedness for Health Care Workers in Bahrain (Version 2)
  Aimed at Bahraini healthcare professionals, these guidelines state: "This guideline has been developed to assist you in preparation for and the recognition of severe respiratory diseases that may have been acquired overseas, such as Influenza A/H1N1 (swine influenza), avian influenza, or SARS. This guideline will be valuable when there are suspected or confirmed cases of efficient human to human transmission of these diseases. Because of the current threat, I urge you to consider how you can apply this information in your practice. Doctors, Pharmacists, Emergency Department Staff and international Border staff will be the first point of contact by affected members of the public if such diseases appear in Bahrain. It is important that as a health care worker, you keep up-to-date with current information on the health risks involved with traveling. Your vigilance in recognizing and responding to respiratory diseases in people who have traveled overseas is essential in the prevention of a major outbreak in Bahrain." [Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Health, 30 June 2009]
• Guidelines for the Management of Malaria in Bahrain
  Examines the various drugs used for treatment of malaria, complications and management of the disease, the situation of malaria in Bahrain, and surveillance. [Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Health, Public Health Directorate, Communicable Diseases Control Section, 2003]
• Malaria in Bahrain, 2002: A report to The Third Inter-Country Meeting Of National Malaria Programme Managers
  "Bahrain has achieved interruption of local malaria transmission since 1980, and therefore classified as a country from Group1. Keeping this great achievement is an important objective as part of malaria control strategy. Malaria and vector control operations are now directed within Roll Back Malaria framework toward better and successful situation of control." [Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Health, Public Health Directorate, Environmental Health Section, 2002]
• Management of Public Health Pesticides in the Kingdom of Bahrain – A report to The Inter-Country Workshop on Public Health Pesticide Management
  Examines the laws governing pesticide use in Bahrain and the current situation (in 2003) with regards to its use. [Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Health, Public Health Directorate, 2003]
• National nutrition survey for adult Bahrainis aged 19 years and above
  This study was conducted at the national level to establish a baseline information on the nutritional status of adult Bahraini population by attempting to identify their dietary habits, define the prevalence of obesity, any diet related chronic diseases and possible association with lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. A total number of 2301 person (1118 males and 1183 females) participated in this survey. The target population was adult Bahrainis 19 years of age and over. Data collection included anthropometric measurements, 24 hrs dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. Lifestyle, eating habits, self-reported health conditions and socio-economic data were collected using a general questionnaire. Hemoglobin levels were determined using finger prick technique. The WHO- BMI standards were adopted to define obesity. The dietary data were computerized using Dankost 2000 database (Danish/WHO diet analysis software package based on Middle East foods) and the data were analyzed using Epi Info Software. Results showed high prevalence of overweight (36.7% males and 28.3% females) and obesity (23.3% males and 34.1% females). The consumption of protein, fat and carbohydrates were found to be high. The intake of calcium was around 80% for males and 70% for females of the reference nutrient intakes for the United Kingdom adult population. While the intake of sodium was 300% of the recommended levels, the potassium intake did not exceed 55%. Results also showed that 21% and 37% of males and females, respectively, suffer from anemia, which might be attributed to the deficiency of iron, folic acid, and unhealthy dietary habits, as well as hereditary anemia. [author abstract]
• National Study on the Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders among School Children Aged 8-12 years old in Bahrain
  "Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) continues to be an important public health problem in many countries. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 348 million (74% of the population) are considered to be at risk of iodine deficiency. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency among school children in Bahrain."

Educational Resources

• WWW Virtual Library: Bahrain
• ArabNet: Bahrain
• CDC - Travel Information: Middle East
• Library of Congress, Country Study: Bahrain