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Kuwait honored with WHO prize for healthy ageing efforts
BERN: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday awarded the 2025 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for the Promotion of Healthy Ageing to Professor Huali Wang of China and Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, represented by the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to elderly care.
The award ceremony was held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on the sidelines of the WHO’s 78th World Health Assembly. The event was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services Hisham Kelendar, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as well as senior WHO officials and representatives of member states.
WHO officials commended Professor Wang’s pivotal role in developing China’s national geriatric care and Alzheimer’s strategies, which included forming over 150 care teams across 27 regions, advancing early diagnosis, and promoting public education and caregiver training in partnership with WHO. Kuwait was similarly recognized for its progress in the field, particularly the development of a national elderly care strategy (2024–2030), which has enhanced healthcare services for the elderly by more than 40 percent.
WHO affirmed that the recipients were selected following an extensive evaluation by an independent expert panel. The prize, established by the State of Kuwait, is awarded annually to individuals and institutions that demonstrate excellence in advancing the health and well-being of older people. Separately, Kuwait hosted a high-level event in Geneva titled “Enhancing the Quality of Health Care through Medical Accountability.” Held in cooperation with WHO, the event drew participation from health ministers, ambassadors, WHO leaders, and representatives of regional and international health organizations.
In his remarks, Dr Al-Awadhi reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm commitment to fostering transparency and accountability within the healthcare system, emphasizing their vital role in improving patient safety and operational efficiency. “Kuwait is dedicated to institutionalizing medical responsibility as a core pillar of healthcare reform,” he said, highlighting recent reforms aimed at elevating standards of care.
Chairman of the Medical Accountability Authority Sheikh Dr Salman Al-Sabah presented Kuwait’s pioneering model of medical oversight, noting that the independent authority reviews professional conduct, investigates patient complaints and issues expert assessments. He emphasized that the authority functions within a framework that upholds impartiality and public trust.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhi praised Kuwait’s approach, describing it as a “leading example” of transparent and integrated medical accountability in the region. WHO expert Jill Campbell echoed these sentiments, calling on neighboring countries to adopt similar models and expand regional cooperation on health governance.
The event featured in-depth dialogue on global best practices and challenges in healthcare oversight, concluding with a set of recommendations. These included enhancing national legislation on medical accountability, ensuring the independence of regulatory bodies, advancing research in the field, and strengthening WHO’s capacity-building efforts at regional and international levels. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”
Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”
Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.
He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.
The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.
Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA
CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.
The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.
Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.
Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA
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