Health Minister heads Bahrain’s delegation to 73rd session of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee

Cairo, Oct. 13 (BNA): Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health, headed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s delegation to the 73rd session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, held in Cairo, the Arab Republic of Egypt, from October 13 to 15.

The delegation included Ambassador Fawzia Zainal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States.

The Health Minister affirmed Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with the WHO and member states, exchanging expertise and improving health system resilience to support universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

The session discussed key regional health priorities, including polio eradication, immunisation, communicable diseases, access to medicines and vaccines, health workforce development and antimicrobial resistance. Bahrain highlighted its success in remaining free of poliovirus for more than three decades through sustained immunisation and surveillance efforts.

Other topics included digital health, the One Health approach, mental health services and psychosocial support during emergencies, health emergency preparedness under the International Health Regulations (2005), and regional efforts to address tobacco use and emerging tobacco and nicotine products.