Health Undersecretary participates in UN High-Level Meeting on Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases
New York, Sept. 26 (BNA): Dr. Lulwa Rashid Shuwaiter, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, participated in The UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NCDs), held in New York.
The meeting was held under the theme of “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being.”
Member states, civil society and the private sector representative attended the meeting, as discussions focused on strengthening global action to address rising health challenges.
In her remarks, Dr. Shuwaiter stressed that health remains a national priority and a pillar of Bahrain’s sustainable development agenda. She pointed to the Kingdom’s alignment with UN and WHO recommendations as evidence of its commitment to international cooperation in tackling shared health concerns.
She highlighted Bahrain’s achievements over the past decade, including the establishment of a national taskforce to combat chronic diseases, regular health surveys, a national cancer registry, and early detection programmes. She also noted initiatives to curb obesity, regulate food marketing, and impose taxes on sugary drinks and tobacco, alongside the launch of a national nutritional guide.
Dr. Shuwaiter highlighted the importance of equitable access to healthcare, noting that Bahrain integrates NCD and mental health services within its primary healthcare system. She outlined progress under the National Mental Health Plan, including expanding psychological support services, building specialised facilities, training health professionals and introducing remote care.
She concluded by calling for stronger global solidarity to advance health equity and sustainable healthcare systems, affirming Bahrain’s determination to continue working with international partners to secure a healthier future for all.
