His Excellency Dr. Al Rand: This honour is both an achievement and a source of pride for the UAE and demonstrates our wise leadership’s vision and determination to improve the country’s position in global health indicators.
DUBAI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised the UAE for its progressive efforts towards strengthening the national immunisation programme, with a particular emphasis on the introduction of the HPV vaccine.
This honour demonstrates WHO’s confidence in the UAE’s robust health system, which prioritises prevention measures, ensures the integration of disease prevention and the latest immunisation technologies through innovative and sustainable approaches, and provides comprehensive and integrated healthcare.
Disease prevention
Chairman of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), Dr. Ahmed Al Suwaidi, member of the group, Dr. Suleiman Al Hammadi, and Dr. Laila Al Jasmi, head of the Immunization Department at the Ministry of Health, received the award at a ceremony hosted by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, which also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the WHO Essential Immunization Programme and was attended by senior officials from the Regional Office and representatives of member states in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Celebrate the effort
This honour recognises the continuous efforts of the Ministry of Health and other health authorities to strengthen and update the National Immunisation Programme. As one of the country’s strategic initiatives, the programme is regularly reviewed by expert technical committees such as the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the National Supreme Committee for Immunisation. Reviews are conducted in line with the latest international standards and reflect local vaccination coverage and the number of reported cases of vaccinated diseases.
Leadership Vision
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Sector, said the accolade is a source of pride for the UAE and a clear indication of the country’s leadership’s determination to excel in global competitiveness indexes.
He stressed that the honor is in recognition of the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Health, strategic partners and health authorities to enhance the efficiency of the health system and prevent diseases, which serves as a renewed motivation to maintain public health excellence while ensuring the highest level of prevention and the implementation of sustainable health strategies for members of the community.
Regionally and globally outstanding
He highlighted that the UAE stands out both regionally and globally for adhering to the highest standards in the fight against HPV and cervical cancer. Such achievements have been driven by a commitment to developing health policies based on scientific research and made possible by various programs and initiatives launched and implemented by the country’s health authorities. These policies are extremely helpful in setting, building and regulating standards within the national strategic program aimed at fighting the disease.
Al Rand added that the Ministry of Health has included the HPV vaccine for women in the national immunization program since 2018, making the UAE the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean region to do so. Recently, the program was expanded to boys aged 13-14. He also praised the continued support from the Ministry of Health’s strategic partners and other health authorities, which helps sustain the national immunization program and strengthens the UAE’s reputation as a global model for integrated healthcare.