The State of Qatar has taken part in the 71st session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland (21-26 May 2018) with a delegation headed by HE Dr. Hanan Al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health.
Prior to the convening of WHA, HE Dr. Al-Kuwari participated on 19th May in election of EMRO regional director at a special session. The new elected director is Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari from the brotherly State of Oman.
In her statement at the WHA opening, HE said: "in Qatar, we are deeply committed to achieving universal health coverage, under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the beloved Emir. She Added: " Our country is working on the continuous development of our health system to achieve good health and well-being for present and future generations".
"The State of Qatar provides development support to countries in need, including sustainable development projects such as health and education projects", she added.
Moreover, Her Excellency emphasized the need to increase international attention to the health rights of people living in countries with acute and long-term emergencies, especially in "Eastern Mediterranean" region with four level 3 emergencies out of six countries worldwide, in WHO classification: Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
She also affirmed the need to ensure the right of the Palestinian people to access health services in a way that guarantees their dignity and their right to life.
In addition, HE stressed in her address at the side event to the 71st Session of WHA, cosponsored by Qatar, on Universal Access to Solid Organs Transplantation, that the first renal transplant in Qatar was performed in 1986. Nevertheless, transplant activity remained low until 2009 when Doha Donation Accord was launched with the support of Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group and Transplantation Society. HE pointed out that the Principles and Strategies of the Doha Accord were aligned with the declaration of Istanbul and WHO Guidelines