Sultanate takes part in eighth Arab Health Summit in the US
The eighth Arab Health Summit organised by the Arab Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) began on Sunday in Washington, DC, in the US under the theme, ‘A Global Call to Action on Health Equity and Social Justice’.
The four-day summit has gathered a wide range of representatives from the Middle East and North African countries including scholars, health leaders, professionals, policy makers, medical providers, public health professionals, academics, epidemiologists, and mental health professionals.
Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Office, are among the participants.
The summit aims to engage in a productive dialogue around education and research, public health programmes, healthcare, capacity building and community engagement.
During the opening ceremony, H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Obaid al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health, gave a speech about the impact of global connections made through research.
Members of the sultanate’s delegation participated in scien- tific sessions, addressing a significant lack of data and research on Arabs and Arab Americans.
The summit is the only gathering in the US that specifically aims to enhance understanding of the cultural and social factors that influence relevant health behaviours of Arab communities, including their physical and mental health conditions.
ACCESS is the largest Arab American non-profit organisation in the US.
Furthermore, the Arab Health Summit is a tradition that was established by ACCESS in 1998.
The sultanate successfully hosted the ACCESS summit at its seventh session in 2015 with a wide participation from around the world.