The 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean was inaugurated Monday in Cairo,with the participation of ministers of health representatives of the 22 countries of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region and representatives of international, regional and national organizations.
The theme of this year’s session is “Rebuilding better and fairer: stronger systems, resilient communities”.
In his opening remarks, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, highlighted the urgent need for strong and resilient health systems, underpinned and supported by stronger economic, social and security systems. He noted that crises in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region have led to more than 32 million people being forcibly displaced, accounting for 40% of forcibly displaced people globally.
He also pointed out that wild polio is now only endemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where it continues to infect and disable children.
Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population and chair of last year’s session, Hala Zayed, said that while the pandemic still dominates people’s lives, populations are adapting to the new normal, and the fight against COVID-19 continues apace.
“Our work over the past year has been rewarding, but much more needs to be done, and I look forward to address, jointly with you, the public health priorities of our region as part of this year’s Regional Committee agenda, in order to ensure the continuation and non-stop provision of basic health services in light of the critical situation that not only Egypt, but the Eastern Mediterranean Region, is passing through,” she added.
Source: Jordan News Agency