Abu Dhabi: The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi.
Both sides discussed cooperation between the UAE and the WHO during the meeting. They emphasized the significance of enhancing international health cooperation, particularly in light of the serious effects that diseases and pandemics have on global development, security, and stability.
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which was successfully hosted in the UAE at the end of the previous year, was commended by the Director-General of WHO for its success. Dr. Ghebreyesus praised the significant attention given to the health sector at COP events for the first time in the conference’s history, noting its positive impact on addressing the health consequences of climate change.
Dr. Ghebreyesus expressed appreciation for the efforts of the President and his initiatives in combating diseases and epidemics on a global scale and for the role of the UAE in supporting the organization and its global health programs.
The Director-General also commended the UAE’s effective efforts in providing humanitarian and health support to the Gaza Strip, highlighting the UAE’s initiative to host 1,000 children from the area along with their families for treatment in UAE hospitals.
This is in addition to hosting another 1,000 cancer patients for healthcare, as well as establishing a fully equipped field hospital in the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by several dignitaries, including Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Mr. Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC); Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain region.