WHO regional committee opens 60th session in Muscat

Oman said the 60th session of WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean offers an ample opportunity for participating countries to share knowledge and experiences about best practices for combating chronic diseases. "The session will debate a range of issues including the eradication of poliomyelitis, the regional implications of the endgame strategy and the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals," Minister of Heritage and Culture Haytham Al Saeed said in his inaugural speech of the session which got underway Sunday evening. The annual session of the committee, hosted by the Omani Ministry of Health between October 27 and 30, gathered representatives of 22 countries in the region including Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the gathering, Sheikh Mohammad said the State of Kuwait and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are taking part in session out of keenness to provide world-class health services to their citizens. "We focus on the combat against chronic and epidemic diseases in collaboration with the WHO," Sheikh Mohammad pointed out. He appreciated the efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the WHO regional committee session and ensuring its success. "The ongoing session will review several reports of the WHO Regional Director for 2012 on health systems strengthening - challenges, priorities and options for future action; implementing the International Health Regulations (2005); and an update on emergencies and the impact of the Syrian crisis on health systems in the neighboring countries, and the road safety," he noted. "The discussions will also cover the resolutions and decisions of regional interest adopted by the 66th World Health Assembly and the Executive Board at its 132nd and 133rd Sessions, the operational planning and implementation of the program budget 2014-15, and development of the program budget 2016-17," he added. Sheikh Mohammad left Muscat after taking part in the opening meeting