Muscat – The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the 69th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC69), which is being hosted in Egypt till October 13.

The session was inaugurated on Monday by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, Dr Ahmed al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minister of Health of the Republic of Djibouti and Vice-chair of the 68th session of the Regional Committee.

The inauguration of the health meet was attended by ministers of health and representatives of the Region’s Member States, participating in person for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were joined by representatives of international, regional and national organisations.

Oman’s delegation is headed by H E Dr Mohammed Saif al Hosni, Undersecretary for Health Affairs in the Ministry of Health.

The meetings discussed a spectrum of topics, namely addressing strategic issues, annual reports, technical papers on the private sector’s engagement in advancing universal health coverage, eradication of poliomyelitis, and digital health.

The health meet also touched on the strategic framework on blood safety and its availability (2016-2025) and health issues facing populations affected by disasters and emergencies.

Moreover, topics cover accelerating the prevention, control and elimination of communicable diseases through integration, promoting health and well-being in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as well as advancing the implementation of the One Health approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The meeting reviewed the global strategy on infection prevention and control, and the Global Health for Peace Initiative.

The theme of this year’s health meet is ‘Reaching the Sustainable Development Goals in the post-COVID-19 age: accelerating universal health coverage and health security – Health for All by All’.