Minister of Health chairs national committee meeting

Manama, July 10 (BNA): Health Minister Faeqa Saeed Al Saleh has presided over the fourth meeting of the National Committee on Combating Non-Contagious Diseases. Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Undersecretary for Primary and Public Healthcare, Dr. Mariam Al Hajeri, ministry officials and members of the committee including representatives of governmental and private institutions attended the meeting. The minister stressed the key role of the national committee in setting plans and programmes capable of achievement of the goals, including the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, and improvement of healthcare services quality in partnership with the various community organisations to combat chronic diseases and risk factors in the local community. The meeting discussed the previous meeting recommendations, and their approval. The meeting also followed up important topics, including the report issued following the visit of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other UN organisations regarding the prevention and control of non-contagious diseases. The meeting discussed the combating of non-contagious diseases as per the recommendations of the WHO’s 70th session, preparations for the third high-level meeting at the level of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for prevention of non-communicable diseases slated to be held in 2018, the outcomes of UNGA’s second meeting regarding nutrition and the committee report on child obesity. The meeting also discussed means for prevention of cancer within an integrated context and reviewed the relevant frame of preparedness to confront influenza pandemic. In conclusion of the meeting, the minister thanked all members of the national committee, affirming the level of support and the directives of the wise leadership for activation of plans, programmes and activities capable of enhancement of the community healthcare and reduction of the rate of incidences of chronic diseases and their ramifications through the setting of effective strategic plans and launching new initiatives and proposals that will in turn contribute to boosting preventative, awareness and protection aspects to safeguard the community from the risk of chronic diseases.