Kuwait keen to develop relations: Health Minister

KUWAIT CITY, May 17, (KUNA): The World Health Organization (WHO) had set up a special page on its website in recognition of Kuwait’s partnership with the organization in facing crises and health issues around the world.

The new page represents the strong and strategic relations between Kuwait and WHO, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim, told KUNA on Friday.

The page, https://www.who.int/about/funding/contributors/kwt, includes information on Kuwait’s efforts to aid those affected by diseases around the world, as well as aiding people affected by conflict in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Africa, he said.

It also includes information on the sides’ partnership and strategic cooperation, he noted, adding that WHO considered Kuwait as one of the top 20 donor countries for the organization.

Projects

The partnership also involves executing projects to achieve sustainable development, WHO said on its page, noting that Kuwait was one of the first countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, as well as other diseases including Measles, Cholera and Ebola.

Meanwhile, it underlined Kuwait’s efforts to support the organization’s programs, noting that the country donated over USD 200 million between 2015 to 2020, as aid for WHO to ease the suffering of people around the world.

It also said that Kuwait is the first and only Middle East contributor to WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE).

In 2020, CFE helped WHO respond to 29 emergencies including 26 disease outbreaks and six natural disasters. In the same year, Kuwait came in the 12th place in the top contributors in all fields, it said.

Moreover, it mentioned Kuwait’s efforts to host international conferences to support Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and the Rohingya Muslims among others. The page also noted the UN’s granting of the Humanitarian Leader title to His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and granting Kuwait the Humanitarian Center title in recognition of its continuous humanitarian efforts. (end)

Relations

Kuwait Health Minister Dr. Basel Al-Sabah on Saturday expressed his hope to develop and enhance the strong and deep relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), which extends for more than 60 years since Kuwait joint its membership in May of 1960.

Coinciding with the preparation to open a permanent office for the organization in Kuwait, Dr. Al-Sabah welcomed, in a statement to KUNA, the organization’s initiative to announce the allocation of a page on its official website bearing the name of Kuwait and its contributions to the organization.

The minister pointed out the relations between the two sides abounds many important initiatives in different fields.

In this regard, he referred to the award of the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah that were given under the World Health Organization for the best researches, initiatives,  and contributions in the field of elders Health and enhancing health care.

Dr. Basel Al-Sabah revealed that this year’s award would be presented on May 28th, to the National Center for Gerontology in China.  The ceremony will be held on the sidelines of the 74th session of the World Health Organization Assembly in Geneva.

Kuwait Health Minister previously announced the   finalizing preparations to open the organization’s permanent office that will give chances to develop and improve policies, plans, and health programs that are consistent to the latest related developments. (end)

 Executive Director for External Relations and Governance at the World Health Organization (WHO) Jane Ellison hailed Kuwait’s partnership and support for the organization.

Kuwait came in the 12th place in financially supporting WHO in 2020, she told KUNA on Friday.

The new page is dedicated to detailed information on the organization’s partnership with Kuwait and the country’s role in supporting WHO in achieving sustainable development and facing international crises, she added.

The two sides are technically cooperating on different levels, including efforts to ease the suffering of people in need everywhere, Ellison affirmed. She added that Kuwait is among the top 20 donors for the organization.

The page also presents programs and activities that Kuwait had contributed to, and the positive impact of them on disease-hit areas around the world.