Al-Obaidi: WHO's meetings important at regional, international levels

Kuwait's Health Minister Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi said Saturday meetings of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva were very important because they would touch upon issues of concern at the regional and international levels. Kuwait will be chairing a meeting of Health Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the sidelines of the May 19-24 WHO meetings, to discuss means of confronting coronavirus and endeavors of Saudi Arabia to contain the disease, Al-Obaidi told KUNA shortly after arrival in Geneva to participate in the meetings. "The health ministers of the GCC will also discuss ... the fight against non communicable diseases as well as the development of work in the executive office of the GCC health ministers council," he said. Kuwait will also chair the executive office of the Arab health ministers tomorrow, to prepare for the Arab Development and Economic Summit due in Tunisia next year. The Arab health ministers will be following up the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem, and Syrian Golan Height as well as supporting health services in the Comoros, he said. Kuwait, added Al-Obaidi, was interested in the Lima Declaration that was adopted in Peru by the health ministers of the Arab and Latin American countries, particularly reducing death rate, confronting communicable diseases and polio. "Kuwait is closely monitoring a plan by WHO to confront non-communicable diseases like obesity, heart diseases, high diabetes and cancer," he said. The minister also said Kuwait was keen on complying with the UN Political Declaration of September 2011 regarding the health of mothers and children, feeding infants and addressing inactivity of some anti-biotics. Kuwait, said Al-Obaidi, was also keen on following up international plans against chronic diseases and the sell of below-standard medical equipment