A training course on facing nuclear and radiation emergencies was announced here yesterday by the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA).

On this occasion, Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Dr Khalid Al-Sahlawi said this is considered the first course of its kind. It includes workshops and seminars on the basic precautionary measures related to such disasters, he stated.

EAEA experts will lecture the participants, representing a large number of departments in the Ministry of Health and other related bodies, he added.
The special geographical location of Kuwait makes it prone to nuclear and radiation threat caused by the many nuclear plants in the region, he said.

The official remarked that this creates a need for training courses in this field, and the second such course would launch in March in cooperation with the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Some 40 candidates are taking part in this course from the Ministry of Health, Fire Services Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait National Guard, National Security Apparatus, Kuwait International Airport, Ministry of Oil, Kuwait General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Kuwaiti Civil Aviation, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). This course is held virtue of an agreement signed with Egypt in May, 2011. - KUNA