KUWAIT: Rehab Bouresly, Chair of the Kuwait Association for Families of Persons with Disabilities and member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, praised the State of Kuwait for its pioneering and humane approach in caring for and rehabilitating persons with disabilities. She highlighted Kuwait’s efforts to raise community and individual awareness, defend the rights of persons with disabilities and integrate them fully into society.

This commitment was reflected in the statement by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Bannai, during the celebration of the second anniversary of the International Day of Awareness at the UN headquarters. Ambassador Al-Bannai announced that Kuwait is working to draft a convention that enshrines, in international law, the principles of dignity, protection and equality in access to diagnosis, care and treatment for people with rare diseases.

Bouresly emphasized that this honorable and forward-looking initiative, aimed at developing a global legislative framework to support people with rare diseases, reinforces Kuwait’s leadership role. She noted the state’s comprehensive efforts, involving both government and private institutions and its regional and global influence in advancing the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This initiative also reflects society’s positive outlook, unified vision and dedication to improving the quality of life for this segment of the population.

According to Bouresly, Kuwait’s initiative is a manifestation of its dedication to the development of health, social, cultural and sports services, enhancing psychological and social stability, securing needs and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The strategy aims to create an environment that allows persons with disabilities to integrate fully into society as essential contributors to national development, in line with the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of “New Kuwait 2035,” which seeks to provide a decent life for all citizens and residents, regardless of age, gender, or disability.

Bouresly also praised international efforts to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. Affecting approximately one in every 3,500 to 5,000 births, it is most common among boys, usually between the ages of 3 and 5. Early symptoms include delayed walking, difficulty climbing stairs and frequent falls, while advanced stages can result in loss of walking ability (typically between ages 12 and 14) and weakness of the heart and respiratory muscles.

Although science has not yet found a cure, the global medical community continues to intensify efforts to treat the disease and manage its effects through medications, natural and rehabilitative therapies, heart and respiratory monitoring, as well as psychological and social support.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s healthcare system is exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape medical care, with the Ministry of Health taking steps to integrate the technology into diagnostics, treatment, and research. While AI is still largely in pilot or research stages, officials and experts say it has the potential to improve the speed and accuracy of disease detection, support clinical care, advance medical research, and enhance administrative efficiency.

At Jaber Hospital, AI is being trialed in surgeries, endoscopy, blood-flow imaging using ICG technology, and robotic procedures in specialties such as general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology. The ministry also recently hosted a Gulf workshop titled “Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”, focusing on exploring future applications of AI and strengthening regional collaboration.

AI is also being considered for patient-facing applications, including answering medical queries, explaining test results, guiding treatment decisions, and helping patients choose the right specialty. Experts say these tools could eventually support predictive, personalized, precise, and participatory care, improving patient outcomes and efficiency.

Ohoud Al-Enezi

Dr Anwar Mohammed

AI to predict disease

Dr Anwar Mohammed, a researcher at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, told KUNA that AI has become “a pivotal tool in developing medical and research sciences” and has enabled advances in predicting protein structures and their interactions with DNA and RNA using technologies such as AlphaFold.

“AI helps accelerate drug discovery by identifying precise therapeutic targets and understanding disease mechanisms at the molecular level,” he said. He also highlighted that AI reduces time and effort in genomics research by analyzing large biological datasets more accurately than traditional methods and aids in mapping gene interactions to understand chronic diseases such as diabetes.

He noted AI’s role in early detection by identifying precise biomarkers at the genetic or protein level, which can be measured in blood to predict diseases such as type 2 diabetes before symptoms appear. Mohammed explained that adapting protein structure prediction to patient samples could link molecular changes to clinical outcomes, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling personalized care.

But the use of AI doesn’t come without challenges, said Mohammed. “The challenges include the need for high-quality, diverse data, the difficulty of interpreting complex models and linking them to clinical practice, as well as ethical considerations and protecting patient privacy.” He expects AI to have the greatest potential in specific medical fields, including endocrinology, metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, genetic medicine, and personalized medicine based on gene-centered treatments, as well as cancer.

Training is necessary

Dentistry is another field exploring AI’s potential. Dr Abdullah Marafi of the Ministry of Health described AI as a “clinical co-pilot” that could support doctors across treatment stages. He explained that AI can detect cavities, measure jawbone levels, and assist in planning procedures such as implants and orthodontics with high accuracy.

He also noted that challenges in applying AI in dentistry include cost and the need for specialized training programs. “The future depends on enhancing the role of doctors by freeing them from routine tasks so they can focus on critical thinking and human interaction with patients,” he said. “It also requires updating academic curricula to prepare dentists skilled in AI technologies.”

Nuclear medicine is another area seeing AI potential. Ohoud Al-Enezi, president of the Kuwait Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists, told KUNA that AI could revolutionize nuclear medicine by improving PET and SPECT imaging, supporting theranostics—which combines diagnosis and treatment—and accelerating accurate diagnoses of diseases such as cancer. She highlighted that FDA-approved AI devices in nuclear medicine increased from six in 2015 to 221 in 2023, and that AI can reduce radiation exposure by up to 50 percent while improving image quality and efficiency. — KUNA

By Eduardo Patricio Pena Haller, Mexican Ambassador to Kuwait

The National Holiday of Mexico is celebrated on September 16 in all parts of the world where Mexican citizens reside. In Mexico, the full month of September is considered the month of “La Patria” (motherland). Therefore, on the night of September 15, the so-called “Cry of Independence” takes place, which commemorates the beginning of the armed struggle in 1810, led by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, which allowed Mexico to become an independent country.

It is therefore very common for every Mexican household to celebrate these dates with joy and patriotism, organizing a Mexican fiesta, where family and friends taste delicious traditional dishes and enjoy traditional and modern music.

Also on September 1 of each year, the president of Mexico presents to the Federal Congress a report on the progress made by his government during the year. It is important to stress that for the first time in the history of Mexico, a woman, Dr Claudia Scheinbaum, handed in her government report as President of Mexico.

As for the bilateral sphere, the president noted in her report that in the face of the new tariff reality in the world, Mexico has managed to maintain the lowest average level of tariffs globally. She also pointed out that new strategies have been implemented to diversify the markets of Mexican exports. Hence, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with Brazil and the Trade Agreement with the European Union (EU) has been updated. Also, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited to visit Mexico this September.

In the economic and social fields, President Scheinbaum’s report notes that foreign direct investment hit a historic high in the first half of the year, with more than $36 billion. It also highlights the advances in technological innovation achieved, including the production of a mini electric car Olínia, the design of semiconductors, weather observation and civil protection satellites, as well as the development and production of state-of-the-art drones.

With regard to security, President Sheinbaum noted that Mexico continues to face risks and threats to its national security from both outside and inside the country, but that thanks to the coordination of federal and state security authorities, a 25.8 percent reduction in manslaughter has been achieved September of last year.

She also highlighted the “historic” reduction in poverty levels in the country, as she reported that between 2018 and 2024 more than 13 million people ceased to be poor, thanks to the federal government investing nearly one trillion pesos in social programs and pensions for more than 30 million people nationwide. Now 82 percent of Mexican households receive direct budget through social welfare programs.

On hospital infrastructure, President Sheinbaum pointed out that construction of 31 hospitals was completed and another 20 were started. In terms of housing, the report highlights the start of construction of 200,000 houses for Mexican families earning between one and two minimum wages.

In education, the federal government is implementing a new baccalaureate model, in which spaces for students have been expanded. During September alone, 38,000 new places will be added. The Universidad Rosario Castellanos was also created, which already has 77,000 students.

Regarding the Kuwait-Mexico relationship it is important to note that 50 years have passed since both nations decided to establish diplomatic relations. In the year 1975, then President of Mexico Luis Echeverria Alvarez paid a four-day state visit to Kuwait, where then Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah hosted him. Another very significant milestone was two official visits to Mexico in 2010 carried out by the then Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The visits were fundamental for Kuwait to open its embassy in Mexico in 2011, and for Mexico to establish an embassy in Kuwait in 2012. It is also important to remember that in 2016 President Enrique Peña Nieto officially visited Kuwait.

With regard to trade links between the two countries it is important to mention that they have been increasing every year. Currently Mexico exports to Kuwait cars, trucks, auto parts, industrial products, canned foods, soft drinks, avocados, chilies, green tomatillos, strawberries, raspberries, raspberries, etc.

Finally I would like to leave note of Mexico’s gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, the Government of Kuwait and all Kuwaiti and Mexican nationals residing in this beautiful country, who day by day show us their kindness and deference.

Long live Kuwait!

Long live Mexico!