(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar is taking part in the 71st session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, with a delegation led by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari.
The session began yesterday and continues until May 26.
WHA is the highest decision-making body at the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the main topic of its meetings this year is comprehensive health coverage.
Qatar's delegation has also participated in a number of meetings taking place on the sidelines of the WHA, including the 50th regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and its executive bureau on May 20 and 21 as well as the fifth extraordinary session of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean on May 19, according to a statement by the Ministry of Public Health.
Further, the Qatari delegation has attended a meeting of the health ministers of Francophone states, held in Genera on Sunday.
The WHA meetings discuss a number of major issues such as the executive council's report on its 141st and 142nd sessions as well as its extraordinary session on the draft 13th General Programme of Work, 2019-2022, in addition to electing members of the executive council.
The meetings also touch upon public health preparedness and response; health, environment and climate change; the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines; the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property; preparation for the third high-level meeting of the general assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, to be held in 2018; and preparation for a high-level meeting of the general assembly on ending tuberculosis.
Moreover, the meetings will discuss the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health; use of appropriate digital technologies for public health; improving access to assistive technology; maternal, infant and young child nutrition; comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition; pandemic influenza preparedness framework for the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits; and eradication of poliomyelitis.
Additionally, the WHA meetings will discuss the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organisations, enhancing the health of refugees and immigrants, the global working plan on vaccines, communicable diseases, promoting health throughout life, and the role of WHO and its responsibilities in the area of health research.
Meanwhile, Oman's Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari was elected director of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean during its fifth extraordinary session, QNA reported.
HE Dr al-Kuwari, who led Qatar's delegation at the session, congratulated al-Mandhari on his win, wishing him success in his duties, especially in light of the massive challenges facing a number of Eastern Mediterranean countries.
She expressed confidence in his ability to manage the significant issues at the disposal of the regional office so as to help in serving the health of eastern Mediterranean people.
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