The 62nd session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, held over the period from October 5th to 8th, 2015, (corresponding to Dhul-Hijjah 22nd to 25th, 1436H) in Kuwait, was concluded yesterday, Thursday. The meetings were held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the presidency of His Excellency the Kuwaiti Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi, in the presence of the Director General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, and the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Alaa Alwan, with vigorous participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which participated with a high-level delegation headed by His Excellency the Minister of Health Eng. Khalid Al-Falih.
The events of the session started with a report presented by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Alaa Alwan, wherein, he reviewed the achievements made in the countries of the region during the year 2014 in the field of health security, communicable and non-communicable diseases, comprehensive health coverage and the health system. He made reference to the progress indicators made by the region's countries to achieve the millennium development goals, which were set in 2000 and continued up to the year 2015, and the preparations for the implementation of the World Sustainable Development Goals over the period from 2015 up to 2030.
On her part, the Director General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, announced in her speech that a regional solidarity fund will be set up to be used in emergency situations. It will be activated at the beginning of 2016.
She touched upon many aspects relevant to the health field in her speech, and encouraged the countries to move forward to achieve the seventeen developmental goals approved recently by the United Nations General Assembly. She also praised the generous support provided by the Kingdom for the WHO to counter Ebola and the communicable diseases, and the approach adopted by the Kingdom represented by the Ministry of Health for investing in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-related researches.
On the other hand, HE the Minister of Health Eng. Khalid Al-Falih delivered a speech in the first session of the WHO’s Regional Committee meetings, in which he thanked the Kuwaiti Leadership, government and people for the warm hospitality and impressive organization of this session.
He underlined, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia always takes incomparable pride in serving pilgrims. For that noble purpose, it makes substantial sacrifices and harnesses all its potentials to maintain pilgrims' safety, and help them perform Hajj in the most convenient manner ".
He added that the Kingdom has successfully managed to make this year's Hajj season free of Coronavirus for the fourth consecutive season. He attributed the success of this year's Hajj season, during which no epidemic diseases or MERS-CoV cases were recorded amongst the pilgrims, to the strict preventive measures adopted this year in the Kingdom as general.
Al-Falih noted at the conclusion of his speech that the Kingdom takes utmost pride in serving Hajj and pilgrims. He added "We are ready to share our experience in combating MERS-CoV, and the strenuous efforts we exerted to that end, with all member states.”
On his part, the Kuwaiti Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi commended the scientific nature of the discussions, explaining that Their Excellencies the participating ministers of health and the heads of the delegations offered their considerable expertise during their in-depth and high level scientific comments, which in turn helped exchange expertise and the learned lessons regarding the significant topics discussed in the meetings.
It is noteworthy that their Excellencies the ministers of health and senior representatives from 22 countries participated in the 62nd session the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean.