WHO Chief Calls Iran “Health Leader”

WHO Chief Calls Iran “Health Leader” of Eastern Mediterranean Region

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has described Iran as the health leader in the Eastern Mediterranean region, saying the country has managed to improve the health of children and women and contain infectious diseases by promoting health services.

Addressing the 66th summit of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in Tehran on Tuesday, Tedros Adhanom hailed Iran’s health achievements and said the WHO is committed to helping Iran achieve better and higher quality health services.

The World Health Organization reports indicate that there are many health problems in the eastern Mediterranean region, but countries’ efforts have increased optimism, he noted.

“We need political commitment to help improve health in the region, including in Afghanistan, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan and other countries,” Adhanom added.

He referred to the global hepatitis program and underlining that “it is a global program to control, prevent and reduce hepatitis B deaths that we must work on in the countries of this region, especially Afghanistan. Although the deaths resulting from this disease have declined to some extent, there are still cases of death in this region.”

A framework should be put in place to control these deaths so that mothers, infants and patients can lead healthy lives. To reach this, we need more nurses and health workers to meet these goals, continued the WHO’s Director General.

“We have developed a plan to achieve this goal and I pledge to help implement it this year, but there are other problems in the region, such as uncontrolled drug use and environmental issues which we are prepared to address,” concluded the official.

Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 22 countries and territories of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, partner organizations and civil society, are scheduled to take part in the summit.

Meanwhile addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting, Iran’s Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki said the U.S. cruel sanctions against Iran and denial of access to medicine, medical supplies, and foodstuffs are a threat to Iranian health, adding that it is a crime against humanity.

Iran asks WHO chief to defend Iran against U.S. cruel sanctions that have targeted the health of the Iranian people, he mentioned.

Iran is committed to providing health services to all people, including Shias, Sunnis, Jewish, Christians, Zoroastrians and even prisoners sentenced to death, he added, saying that Iran calls on WHO not to let anybody’s health be harmed and threated by warlords and sectarians.

Iranian health minister noted that Iran is ready to share its successful healthcare experiences with regional countries.

Iran adheres to all its commitments and WHO and UN resolutions on universal health coverage, Namaki added.