Kuwaiti minister applauds GCC co-operation to overcome heath challenges

Kuwait's Minister of Health Dr. Ali Al-Obaidi commended here on Wednesday the unity and cooperation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to overcome healthcare challenges.
Al-Obaidi made this remark during his speech at the opening session of the 78th GCC health ministers' conference, which is being held here under the chairmanship of Saudi Health Minister Ahmad Al-Khateeb.
The minister, also chairman of the previous round of the GCC executive health council, shed light on the accomplishments, such as the GCC leaders' adoption, at Doha's summit last December, the ministers' plan aimed at combating communicable diseases (2014-2025).
He noted that Kuwait gives a top priority to the health sector as it is one of the State's development programs, referring to the national program for combating tobacco and aids.
The minister underscored the significance of topics discussed by the conference.
"The health ministers are discussing the themes that interest the GCC member states in this regard and thrashing out the ways to overcome challenges the Gulf countries are facing," Dr. Al-Obaidi told KUNA on Wednesday in a statement on the sidelines of the conference.
The congress gives the ministers an opportunity to exchange expertise and views on what has been achieved so far in this sector and to take new decisions in order to meet the aspirations of the Gulf people to achieve health security and enhance efficiency of healthcare bodies, he noted.
He said that the conference coincides with the achievements made by the GCC member states in term of decreasing rates of maternal and children deaths and facing communicable diseases, primarily malaria, AIDS and others.
He expressed satisfaction at the GCC countries' success in "facing challenges against health sectors, with continuing coordination, joint action and expertise exchange." Al-Obaidi voiced his appreciation of Saudi Health Minister Dr. Al-Khateeb, all ministers and officials for their efforts to prepare for such gathering.
He said that the conference reflects the Gulf commitment to common action and continued development of health bodies' performance and facing challenges.
The Kuwaiti official expressed his confidence that the Gulf health bodies have potentials that enable them to carry out strategies and action plans through cooperation among ministers, governmental and nongovernmental bodies.
He underlined the keenness of the GCC member states to follow up the developments in all health domains across the globe and to meet recommendations and decisions taken by the World Health Organization.
Speaking at the conference, the GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani expressed his appreciation of the efforts made by the GCC executive health council and coordination with the general secretariat.
He said that the GCC leaders give a top priority to the health sector, referring to some decisions that were taken to improve health services and create a healthy environment for the GCC citizens.
The current meeting tackles issues such as non-communicable diseases, combating cancer, cooperation criteria with health associations, combating smoking, occupational health, statistical bulletin and basic health indicators.