Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari and Director-General of WHO H E Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the event.
Doha, Qatar: The state of Qatar has participated in the 155th Session of the WHO Executive Board, which concludes today in Geneva, Switzerland.
The delegation of Qatar is headed by Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari.
During the meeting, Al Kuwari handed over the chairmanship of the WHO Executive Board to Permanent Representative of the Republic of Barbados to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, as the new chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.
The Minister wished the new chair all success in his upcoming role, stressing her trust in his leadership of the work of the Executive Board with wisdom and dedication under the support of the members of the Board.
In her speech to the Executive Board, Her Excellency reviewed some of the challenges and achievements of the Board, saying: “One of the most urgent issues we grappled with was the profound impact of conflicts on healthcare workers and facilities worldwide. The destabilizing consequences of violence and war not only jeopardizes healthcare provision but also poses the threat of outbreaks and long term deterioration of the health conditions of people living with chronic diseases and disabilities.”
She pointed out that it was crucial to come together during the EB’s 7th Special Session in December 2023 on Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories to address the harmful effects of conflict and at the same time ensuring the safety and security of healthcare workers and facilities globally. Al Kuwari confirmed the significance of the Health and Peace Resolution, which the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed on Saturday as an important step towards ensuring health for all.
Throughout discussions, she stated that in preparation for the WHA, they delved into critical issues shaping WHO’s work and global health, including the Global Programme of Work (GPW) 14, the pandemic treaty, International Health Regulations (IHR), health and climate change, and financial mechanisms. Some of these matters have been successfully adopted by the Assembly while others remain outstanding requiring member states to work collaboratively to bridge the gaps.
