Doha, October 14 (QNA) - The meetings of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, held in Doha from Oct. 14-17, will discuss four technical papers that emphasize the need to accelerate progress in a number of key areas on the agenda, including trauma injuries, the issue of promoting mental health, antimicrobial resistance, and improving health information systems throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
HE Minister of Health of Somalia and Chair of the 70th session of the Regional Committee Dr. Ali Haji Abubakar stressed that the recent escalation witnessed by the Arab region in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, and other areas, is a reminder of the importance of working and investing in health infrastructure to ensure that all individuals receive their rights in health fields despite the current circumstances.
During his speech at the opening session, HE the Minister of Health of Somalia indicated that the Arab region was exposed to several difficult circumstances that posed various challenges and difficulties that were addressed with the determination and flexibility of societies, which achieved great progress in the process of enhancing awareness of health and education.
His Excellency commended the efforts of the State of Qatar in hosting the meetings of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, praising Qatar's efforts represented by linking the sports field with the health field, so that the purpose of these meetings is not to discuss challenges separately, but to emphasize the commitment to health and well-being among peoples.
In turn, Director of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhy emphasized that during the meetings of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, four technical papers will be presented to accelerate progress in some key areas. She noted that the first paper will present a proposed model for a new operational framework to address trauma (wounds and injuries resulting from violence and accidents), in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions witnessed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Balkhy added that the regional initiative on trauma will work to save lives through the systematic application of some basic interventions. She noted that the second technical paper will work to develop a new regional action plan to promote mental health and psychosocial support in emergency situations.
She indicated that the third technical paper would discuss how to stimulate a response to antimicrobial resistance in the region, especially since this issue is one of the greatest threats to health and development globally. She stressed the need to intensify work on antimicrobial resistance in the region and to enhance cooperative work across different sectors.
In this context, Dr. Balkhy pointed out that the latest technical paper will discuss in detail how to improve health information systems throughout the region.
On the other hand, Balkhy explained that this year's regional committee will provide a great opportunity to discuss emergency cases and several health challenges facing the Middle East region. She noted that a special briefing session will be held on the conditions in Palestine, as part of the agenda of these meetings.
She said that the meetings will reveal the latest ongoing efforts to achieve a world free of polio, in addition to discussing the many crises and challenges facing the region, which will dominate the long discussions, especially since these forums are the most prominent in discussing public health policies.
She pointed out that the upcoming meetings will also include a number of discussions related to the broader plans for the next four years, including the WHO's new strategic implementation plan in the region, and the three main initiatives.
She also pointed out that draft resolutions on these items and others will be presented to the committee for consideration at the appropriate time. She indicated that the WHO Regional Committee is an essential component of the governance mechanisms and operations that ensure the WHO's alignment with the needs and priorities of member states.
Concluding her speech, Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhy appreciated the efforts of the State of Qatar to host the meetings of the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, voicing her hope to come out with fruitful recommendations in light of the conditions that the Eastern Mediterranean region is going through. (QNA)