ISLAMABAD: The 64th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean will open on Monday, October 9, in Islamabad. As WHO’s governing body at the regional level, the regional committee comprises representatives of all 22 countries in Eastern Mediterranean region.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri and top global health experts will participate in the high profile event.
Ministers of health and their representatives will discuss important public health priorities for countries of the region, and more than 250 public health leaders and experts will attend the meeting, including representatives of national, regional and international organisations. WHO Secretariat staff from its headquarters and the regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean will also participate in the meeting.
In a statement, Federal Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar said that the mega health event coming to Pakistan is reflective of the country’s increasing role as a major player in global health. Delegates from South Asia, Middle East, West Asia, North Africa and top experts from across the world be convening in Islamabad to take decisions on issues of regional character including stopping the spread of disease, fighting epidemics, social protection and control of non-communicable diseases, said the minister.
The minister also said that the focus was placed on five priority areas of public health – emergencies and health security, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, and health system strengthening – which align with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and which will ensure country’s progress in moving towards universal health coverage.
According to details, the regional committee will be invited to endorse a proposed regional framework for action on cancer prevention and control. It will also be invited to endorse a proposed updated framework for action on climate change and health.
