THE Ministry of Health (MoH) remains committed to advancing health and the well-being of the people of Brunei Darussalam with the support of all relevant stakeholders.
These remarks were made by Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Mahdi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Awang Haji Abdul Rahman, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Geneva on behalf of Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health, while leading a delegation from Brunei Darussalam to the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland that commenced on May 22, 2016.
The assembly was attended by health ministers and representatives from 194 member nations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The theme for the World Health Assembly this year was ‘Building Better Systems for Health in the Age of Sustainable Development’.
In a statement, the MoH said the ambassador expressed Brunei’s firm support for the framework of sustainable development and its aspirations which drive forward a comprehensive and holistic approach to improving population health and well-being. This approach takes into account the interplay of, and engagement between the health system, other relevant sectors, and the wider community.
The MoH has identified three strategic priorities for the coming years – prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs), delivering excellent services, and inculcating the ‘Health is Everyone’s Business’ agenda, with the intention in empowering individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own health.
Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Mahdi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Awang Haji Abdul Rahman, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Geneva, delivering his remarks. – MOH
Among the issues discussed at the assembly were preparedness, surveillance and response to health emergencies, antimicrobial resistance, donation and management of blood, global shortage and access to medicines and vaccines, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and promoting health through the life course including adolescents’ health.
The ambassador also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Director General, Dr Margaret Chan for her leadership and contribution to the WHO and congratulated the newly elected Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia.
Prior to the assembly, the ambassador led the Brunei delegation to the 29th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting on May 21, 2017 in Geneva.
The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting was ‘Sustainable Financing of Universal Health Coverage as an Essential Component for Global Security Including the Reduction of All Forms of Violence’.
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