Health Minister leaves for WHO meet in Switzerland

H E Dr Hilal Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, left the country on Sunday heading the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation for the 154th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, that will take place on January 22-27 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Oman’s delegation will take part in several topics of the program agenda including follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, draft global action plan for infection prevention and control, end TB Strategy, antimicrobial resistance: accelerating national and global response, and the Global Health and Peace Initiative.

Throughout its five-day summit, EB154 will address spectrum of topics on the pillar one: Billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage outlining draft global action plan for infection prevention and control, Immunization Agenda 2030, and end TB Strategy.

Moreover, on the pillar of one billion more people better protected from health emergencies, the meeting will review Poliomyelitis and Smallpox eradication. As for the Pillar 3 regarding one billion more people enjoying better health and well-being, the board will highlight social determinants of health, maternal, infant and young child nutrition, well-being and health promotion, in addition to climate change, pollution and health, and economics and health for all.

Furthermore, the meeting will touch upon budget and finance matters, management and governance matters, committees of the executive board, staffing matters, and report on meetings of expert committees and study groups.

The Director-general report, reports of the regional committees as well programme, budget and administration committee to the executive board will be reviewed.