Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar stressed the utmost importance of joint efforts to support fellow Arab countries facing emergency and difficult circumstances, while continuing to provide medical and humanitarian assistance, supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts, and placing Arab peoples and their health systems at the forefront of priorities.
This came during his address to the Higher Executive Board of the Council of Arab Health Ministers at its 65th regular session, held at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat, in the presence of Libyan Health Minister Mohamed al-Awj, Minister Plenipotentiary Enas Faragani and Minister Plenipotentiary Maysaa Hidmi. They congratulated Abdel Ghaffar on assuming the council’s presidency for the current session.
The minister welcomed all participating ministers, calling for enhanced joint Arab health security and the development of healthcare systems. He noted that the session had witnessed extensive discussions, resulting in a comprehensive package of strategic decisions and recommendations covering 17 agenda items and setting the course for the next phase of work.
Abdel Ghaffar stressed Egypt’s continued provision of relief assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip. He welcomed the council’s approval of financial and logistical support from the Arab Fund for Health Development to meet urgent needs in Palestine, Sudan and Yemen, secure their pharmaceutical requirements in co-ordination with Egypt, and support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to ensure the continuity of its operations.
He added that the Arab Strategy for Benefiting from Migrant Arab Health Professionals for 2026-2030 had been adopted as a cornerstone of joint health security. Egypt will host the second Arab Conference on the Role of Arab Health Professionals Abroad in Supporting Arab Health Systems.
The council also approved the supplementary project concerning adolescents and endorsed Egypt as a regional centre for training and qualifying personnel working in blood transfusion services across the Arab world.
The minister praised the efforts of the Arab Board of Health Specialisations, noting that Egypt had presented its national proposal for the Arab Day for a Humanitarian World Free of Burns, based on its partnership with the Ahl Masr Foundation as a pioneering model.
He also highlighted the importance of co-ordination to prepare a unified statement for the 80th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, conveying a clear message on the humanitarian situations in Palestine, Yemen and Sudan.
