The Maldives has requested technical assistance and cooperation from countries to eradicate TB and other diseases. The request was made by Minister of Health Dr. Abdulla Khaleel at the 154th Executive Board Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Minister Khaleel is a member of the Executive Board representing the Southeast Asian region. The meeting is the highest-level international decision-making governance meeting attended by health professionals from 34 Member States.
This meeting was held from January 22-27 in Geneva, Switzerland. The six-day meeting included participation of the member and non-member states of the Executive Board. Maldives will continue to represent the Southeast Asian region on the Executive Board for a period of three years, from May 2022.
During the meeting, the board deliberated on the decisions taken at the 76th World Health Assembly, the reports of the Program, Budget and Administrative Committee meeting, and the agenda to be discussed at this year's 77th World Health Assembly. The board will also discuss on the preparedness, prevention and response of health emergencies, universal health coverage and prevention of TB, and discuss on reducing the impact of climate change on health, and important decisions will be taken in this regard. At this year's executive board meeting, regional director for eastern Mediterranean, Western Pacific and Southeast Asia region was appointed for the next five years.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Maldivian delegation met with high level officials from other countries to discuss bilateral collaborations on strengthening the health workforce and other collaborative areas. In addition, a delegation of the Ministry of Health represented the Maldives at the 39th Programme, Budget and Administrative Committee (PBAC) meeting of the World Health Organization Executive Board, held in Geneva, Switzerland from January 16-19.
The meeting, attended by health professionals from 13 countries, took important decisions through discussions among countries on program budget, sustainable financing, draft 14th General Programme of Work and human resource development. The Maldives will continue to represent the South East Asian region on the Programme, Budget and Administrative Committee for a period of two years from May 2022.