Doha: The 71st session of the World Health Organization’s Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean concluded on Thursday with a strong emphasis on solidarity and equitable access to healthcare across the region, as stated by Dr. Hanan Balkhi, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Dr. Balkhi highlighted in a press conference that the session’s slogan, ‘Health without Borders: Solidarity for Equitable Access to Health Care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region,’ underscores a unified commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of life and health for every individual in the region, irrespective of their location, nationality, or socioeconomic status. The session, which began last Monday in Doha, Qatar, addressed the severe impacts of ongoing conflicts and crises across the region, including the 12-month war in the Gaza Strip, and situations in Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
Dr. Balkhi noted that the Regional Committee serves a
s the principal governing body of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean and that this annual session provided a vital platform for leaders and policymakers from Member States to collaborate with partner organizations and WHO experts on critical health issues. She elaborated on the discussions which included emergency responses, public health successes, and strategic planning for the future. Dr. Balkhi was pleased to introduce the organization’s new regional strategic implementation plan and three significant new initiatives aimed at expanding access to essential medicines, vaccines, medical products, enhancing health workforce capabilities, and intensifying public health efforts on substance abuse.
Furthermore, the session addressed the implementation of a new framework for trauma care in humanitarian settings and a regional action plan to bolster mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies. The plan also aims to combat antimicrobial resistance and leverage digital technology to improve health informati
on systems and healthcare services.
Dr. Richard Brennan, WHO’s director of the emergency program in the region, expressed ongoing concerns about achieving peace and stopping ongoing conflicts but reaffirmed the commitment to reaching those in need. He reported significant health interventions, such as the vaccination of approximately 181,000 children against polio in Gaza and a comprehensive cholera vaccination campaign in Lebanon. Dr. Adham Ismail, WHO’s Director of Program Management, emphasized the importance of integrating mental health and psychosocial support in emergency responses throughout the region.
The session was initiated by Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health of Kuwait, who led the country’s delegation.