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Oman taking part in Arab Forum for Sustainable Development

30 Mar 2021

The sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Health, is taking part in the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD), which began on Tuesday. Oman’s delegation is headed by the Minister of Health H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Sa’eedi. 

As per a statement, the three-day forum, themed ‘Accelerating Progress on the 2030 Agenda post-COVID-19’, reviews and addresses the progress towards implementing and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Arab region. 

H E Dr Sa’eedi delivered a speech where he pointed out that despite significant progress made in the region in key indicators such as maternal and under-five infant mortality, the region continues to face challenges in the increasing number of non-communicable diseases and the resulting economic threats and burden to societies. 

He explained that in several Arab countries this challenge is compounded by humanitarian crisis and political instabilities, resulting in lack of access to healthcare, shortage of medications, famine and displacement of populations. Such factors when put together hindered the progress towards reaching common goals.

The health minister stressed that with COVID-19, the challenges have become even greater, as the pandemic presents an unprecedented emergency that has taken a toll on health agendas worldwide. 

“We remain convinced that a coordinated approach at the international, regional and national levels is vital to achieving the 2030 agenda and proposing innovative solutions for the development of inclusive public health policies is fundamental to advance and reach those goals,” he said. 

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