Jeddah: Dr. Jalila bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health, participated in the Fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, themed ‘From Declaration to Implementation – Accelerating Actions Through Multisectoral Partnerships for the Containment of AMR’. The conference, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from November 14 to 16, 2024, brought together senior officials and experts worldwide.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the minister reaffirmed Bahrain’s support for the outcomes of the Jeddah conference and the One Health approach while showcasing Bahrain’s national strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She emphasised the importance of international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and adopting global best practices to enhance health security. During a panel discussion on enhancing governance, she reiterated Bahrain’s dedication to addressing AMR threats through regional and global cooperation.
On the sidelines, Dr. Jalila met Dr. Hussam Abu Merhi, Ministe
r of Health of Latvia, to explore strategic partnerships and shared expertise aimed at improving healthcare services. Discussions highlighted Bahrain’s healthcare achievements and potential collaboration opportunities in health systems development.
Dr. Jalila also met with Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) representatives, Derrick Sim, CEO of Vaccine Programmes and Markets, and Faisal Gilani, Director for Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East Resource Mobilisation and Growth. Talks focused on expanding health programmes, sharing expertise, and supporting universal health coverage. GAVI representatives commended Bahrain’s efforts to eliminate diseases and ensure comprehensive health services.
The minister expressed Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing collaboration in the fields of infectious disease management, preventive health interventions, and emergency health responses. She emphasised that these efforts align with Bahrain’s dedication to supporting joint initiatives with inte
rnational organisations to improve public health across all age groups globally. The conference addressed priorities such as surveillance, governance, funding, innovation, and research.
The Bahraini delegation included Mariam Ali Al Manaseer, Director of Communications; Dr. Mohammed Al Awadhi, Director of Public Health; and Dr. Afaf Merza Mohamed, Public Health Consultant and Head of the Communicable Diseases Control Group.