Kuwait Celebrates
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18067 JUMADA ALTHANI 27, 1441 AH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 Kuwait has no plans to grant Nine dead in ‘xenophobic’ Kuwait Amir sponsors 9 amnesty to violators: Report 10 Germany bar shootings 42 horses’ breeders cup Kuwait Celebrates SEE PAGES 4 & 5 2 Friday Local Friday, February 21, 2020 National holidays Local Spotlight houses, and fireworks are usually launched on the occasion. trol the places where the use of water guns is permitted. Celebrations of the national holiday have witnessed Some drivers take part in spraying foam rather than several phases in the past 50 years and went through focusing on driving, which causes accidents. Some people many changes throughout history. In the Seventies and prepare balloons that are filled with water and throw it on By Muna Al-Fuzai Eighties, celebrations of National Day were held along passing cars. Unfortunately, some families allow their chil- Arabian Gulf Street with the involvement of various state dren to spray cars in the inside streets of residential areas [email protected] and private institutions, and school students participated for days until the end of the weekend, so everyone is in these celebrations. exposed to a lot of harm. uwait is preparing to celebrate the National and I think in the past five years, this national celebration has Sadly, the celebration has turned from a happy occasion KLiberation Day holidays next week. The Civil been exposed to extraneous and offensive scenes, and that people look forward to, whether citizens or expatri- Service Commission has announced that some people have acted in a manner that does not indicate ates, to a celebration that is characterized by harm to inno- Tuesday and Wednesday will be official holidays, along patriotism, love, respect or even understanding of why we cents and riots. I hope that security will be imposed on with Thursday, because it falls between two holidays celebrate. The celebrations have taken on more dangerous everyone by confining these ceremonies in specific areas and the weekend. Official work will resume on Sunday, aspects of harm rather than joy, especially when foam is and away from the streets to provide safe enjoyment for March 1, 2020. sprayed on pedestrians and drivers irresponsibly without the public. This is great break; some people may stay in Kuwait and any regard for their health and safety. Also, the water used It is important for these young people to know why we participate in the activities that are expected to be held in water guns may be replaced by harmful liquids. celebrate this occasion and its importance, but some peo- during this period, while others may choose to travel out- The police and security force, of course, play their role, ple do not know anything other than buying water guns side the country to enjoy the vacation. The national days but, parents have a major role by encouraging their children and spraying it on people. This is a big mistake, because are celebrated as major historical, political and social to not use water guns against people in the name of joy and this is a national occasion when many people sacrificed events of the country, where official buildings are decorat- waste large quantities of water for no reason. Some behav- their lives for this land to be safe, and not a water festival. ed with national flags as well as a number of residential iors are insulting the national days despite attempts to con- I wish happy and safe holidays to everyone. Vaccines in Kuwait By Nawara Fattahova diseases like measles, polio and others. Any claimed links between vaccines like the ike everywhere in the world, in MMR and autism have been discredited LKuwait there are obligatory and rec- and the doctors involved have lost their ommended vaccinations. There are medical licenses. no obligatory vaccinations for adults, but “Some vaccinations can be taken preven- children receive their first vaccination after tively when the person is an adult, even if they are born. A doctor at a polyclinic they received the vaccination as a child, spoke to Kuwait Times on the condition of such as MMR. Also, when people are plan- anonymity about vaccinations in Kuwait. ning to travel to countries affected by an “The first vaccination is given to the baby epidemic or during certain seasons, we rec- after birth, then in the second month, fourth ommend them to get vaccinated for diseases month, sixth month, one year, 18 months, prevalent in that country. The most popular two years, three and a half years and then preventive vaccine is the seasonal flu shot. in school. The school health department of Pilgrims are advised to get vaccinated for the ministry of health is in charge of vacci- meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis and influen- nations in the schooling period,” he said. za,” he told Kuwait Times. Vaccinations Some countries include the DT (diph- require certain theria, tetanus and vaccinations whooping cough) before obtaining a vaccination, MMR visa. “For instance, [measles, mumps and The most popular the embassy of rubella (German preventive vaccine is the United States measles)], and others. requires DT or “These vaccinations the seasonal flu shot influenza vaccines, are obligatory for all some countries kids as they are the demand the basic ones. Then MMR, and so on. there are preventive vaccines that are rec- Also, people working in some professions ommended for boosting immunity against have to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, such some diseases. When the ministry launched as medical staff working here or those who the MMR vaccination around two years come from abroad with reduced immunity,” ago, many people were scared of getting the doctor explained. vaccinated after some influencers wrongly All these vaccinations are available at pub- warned against it, claiming it may have lic polyclinics for everyone (citizens and adverse effects on health. Later, people expats) free of charge. “Getting these vacci- regretted it and are now getting this vac- nations is totally safe with no side effects. The cine,” stressed the doctor. ministry of health sometimes organizes aware- Global rates of vaccinations for children ness campaigns on vaccinations. We also held have declined due to unscientific claims a campaign for polio vaccination, although this regarding the negative effects and this has disease has been eradicated in Kuwait,” he led to resurgence in previously eradicated concluded. 4 Friday Local Friday, February 21, 2020 PHOTO FEATURE ecorated and aglow, Kuwait is ready to celebrate the country’s National Day and Liberation Day holidays this coming week. The civil Service commission has Dgranted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as off to all goverment entities. Tens of thousands of people will travel for the break but many more will stay in the country and celebrate with parades and picnics along the Gulf road and activities and events throughout the week. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Fouad Al-Shaikh Friday 5 Local Friday, February 21, 2020 6 Friday Local Friday, February 21, 2020 How to get your child’s birth certificate in Kuwait By Ben Garcia be told to buy vitamins from outside. 4. Ronel and Marjorie’s baby was deliv- reminded to submit the paper immediately to Vitamins at the clinic are only given to ered at Farwaniya Hospital on Jan 29. She avoid being penalized. f you are an expat and want to start a Kuwaitis and are not available for expats. was admitted at midnight on Jan 27. Since it Ifamily in Kuwait, prepare for the has- Once you have the yellow card and visit the was not during the visiting hours for men, 6. At the Subhan record section, an sles brought about by boundless clinic regularly, the doctor will refer you to a one of his female co-workers helped them employee told Ronel the record was not bureaucracy, starting from obtaining a hospital to open a file there too. with the necessary paperwork for the baby’s ready yet. The man advised him to return birth certificate. This is needed to secure a delivery. After all the procedures were com- after four days. When he went there a few passport (at your embassy) and iqama 2. Opening the file at the hospital costs pleted, the hospital nurse promised to con- days later, he was told there were some era- (from the residency department). A report KD 10. A copy of medical interventions dur- tact the father once his wife delivered, but sures on his papers, which is not acceptable. of birth must be made within 60 days to ing the nine-month period will be sent to even by the third day, she hadn’t. He insisted avoid penalties. Negligence to do so car- the hospital prior to delivery. The hospital to visit the following day and found his wife 7. Ronel then had to attest these docu- ries a penalty of imprisonment or a fine, if will be ready for any eventuality or in case had delivered their baby a day after being ments at the translation department. On same you’ve done it twice. of emergency. admitted. day, he went back to secure the birth certifi- At public hospitals, maternity charges cate and was told to come back after a week have increased drastically since 2016 to KD 3. You are also required to attest your mar- 5. The following day, he went to fetch his to receive the birth certificate card. 150 for a C-section and KD 100 for normal riage certificate at the ministry of foreign wife and the newborn baby from the hospital. Note: The birth card will be in Arabic and delivery.