KUWAIT CITY, Sept 17: A Ministry of Health official stated that Kuwait's selection by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of 32 leading countries with a plan to accelerate efforts against obesity demonstrates a strong commitment and proactive leadership. This choice highlights the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships and high-level political commitment to achieving comprehensive health goals.

Dr. Hasnaa Ayyad, Director of the Nutrition and Feeding Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that the New Kuwait Vision 2035 encompasses projects designed to lower obesity rates, which are significant risk factors for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. She noted that a key objective of the development plan is to tackle childhood obesity.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Ayyad discussed a recent national workshop organized by the ministry, in collaboration with the WHO office in Kuwait and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition. This workshop aimed to advance the plan to combat obesity in the country. Representatives from various official bodies and WHO experts reviewed the implementation mechanisms, set priorities and outlined a timeline for achieving the plan’s goals.

Ayyad explained that the workshop resulted in the creation of a national roadmap to expedite the fight against obesity. This roadmap will employ an evidence-based approach, challenge existing practices, promote cross-sectoral collaboration, increase community awareness, stimulate collective action, and establish new standards for addressing obesity. The experts emphasized that the plan focuses on reducing obesity rates through effective, science-backed strategies, addressing a significant health burden on societies.