Manama: Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health, received Dr. Hanan bint Hassan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, marking a significant step towards strengthening Bahrain's health sector.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting underscored the importance of collaboration with the World Health Organization and international partners to advance Bahrain's health system. Dr. Al Sayyed emphasized the Kingdom's dedication to improving service efficiency and aligning with global healthcare standards through the adoption of quality, governance, and sustainable health development goals.
The Health Minister highlighted Bahrain's achievements in reducing communicable diseases and promoting universal health coverage. These accomplishments are attributed to national strategies guided by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, directives from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and supervision by the Supreme Council of Health led by Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Additionally, partnerships with international organizations have been instrumental in these successes.
The meeting provided an opportunity to review recent developments in Bahrain's health sector, including the expansion of preventive programs, strengthening of community health initiatives, and development of national health policies in line with international best practices.
Dr. Balkhy praised Bahrain's progress in public health, prevention, and epidemic response, reaffirming WHO's commitment to supporting the Kingdom through enhanced technical cooperation and expertise exchange to strengthen Bahrain's health system resilience and sustainability.
Furthermore, discussions covered the progress of national health programs, Bahrain's leadership in combating diseases, efforts to promote healthy lifestyles, and rapid response strategy development for health emergencies. The meeting also explored deepening cooperation in health emergency preparedness and updating national plans to address current and future health challenges, aligning with regional and global health security frameworks.