Health minister, WHO chief participate at ‘Walk the Talk’ event at Child Park

CAIRO – 10 October 2022: WHO’s Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Egypt’s Minister of Health Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar along with Sir Magdi Yacoub and Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean inaugurated on Monday the 68th session of Regional Committee for Eastern Mediterranean at the Child Park in Nasr City.

 

Minister of Health said the Cairo-hosted 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean brings 22 countries together to discuss key health topics, exchange successful experiences, and address coronavirus-related challenges.

The minister hailed fruitful cooperation between Egypt and WHO, highly valuing the organization's support to improve health services in Egypt.

Egypt spares no effort to help countries that see a high rate in cases of hepatitis C virus in light of its successful experience in eliminating the disease, he added.

Abdel Ghaffar has discussed with Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the Egyptian State’s efforts in the field of locally manufacturing vaccines and medicines, as well as ways to exchange expertise in the drug manufacturing technology and expand the production of medicines, especially those for the treatment of cancer and diabetes.

This came during the two sides’ meeting on Monday on the fringes of the Cairo-hosted 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The meeting was attended by WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Representative in Egypt Naeema Al-Gasseer, Chairman of BioGeneric Pharma company Ashraf Rabee’y, and Chairman of Pharco company Sherine Helmy.

The meeting touched on Egypt’s plan to become a leading hub in the pharmaceutical industry, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said.

The health minister expressed thanks to the WHO for its efforts to support Egypt’s health sector in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to back the health services offered by the ministry.

Meanwhile, the WHO chief commended the Egyptian State’s efforts to improve health services, asserting the international body’s willingness to continue cooperation with the Egyptian health sector.