RIYADH: Kuwait has joined the newly established Global Water Organization as a founding member. On Wednesday, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem signed Kuwait’s charter of accession during a ceremony held in Riyadh at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The event was inaugurated by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

Joining Dr Al-Mukhaizeem in signing the charter were several ministers and international officials involved in water-related issues, including Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, Pakistan’s Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture Mabouba Diagne, Mauritania’s Minister of Water and Sanitation Amal Maouloud, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam Al-Misnad.

In his opening remarks, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the importance of the Global Water Organization in addressing global water issues comprehensively, stressing the need for collective action to achieve shared goals. He confirmed that Saudi Arabia will continue working with its partners to achieve the organization’s objectives by providing financial and logistical support for the next five years.

He stated: “The launch of the Global Water Organization affirms Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting international initiatives and addressing global challenges through partnerships based on mutual cooperation among nations and governments,” adding that the Kingdom envisions the organization as an international platform to promote sustainable solutions and help developing countries enhance their water capabilities.

He invited all UN member states and private sector institutions to join the organization and make it a practical and inclusive platform to address water challenges and develop innovative, sustainable solutions for the global water sector.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli said that signing the Global Water Organization’s charter and launching its operations from Riyadh reinforces a shared international responsibility to conserve water resources. He added that the significance of the organization stems from the fact that water is not only a resource but also a source of economic and social development and global stability.

He explained that the organization is not merely a platform for gathering countries but serves as a collective global mind working to integrate and develop the efforts of countries and organizations to tackle water challenges holistically. It also supports technological solutions, scientific research, and facilitates funding to enhance transparency in water management, affirming the Kingdom’s pioneering role in launching ambitious global initiatives.

Al-Fadhli noted that the Global Water Organization is a tool for leading international efforts to confront water-related challenges and to shift traditional thinking in managing water. He emphasized that the challenges go beyond water scarcity to include timely and appropriate availability, as well as water’s impact on the global economy, public health, food security, and supply chains amid climate change and related disasters.

He highlighted the need for integrated services including production, transport, storage, distribution, treatment, and reuse, and the adoption of innovative water economics based on cost-benefit analysis, new financing models, and reduced reliance on government subsidies, with strong private sector involvement.

He also stressed the importance of creating an attractive investment environment by reducing risks, adopting reliable privatization models, and supporting eco-friendly engineering research and technologies through green funds. Furthermore, he underlined the importance of adapting financial and engineering models to the specific needs of each country to make water a driver of growth and to accelerate global solutions under the circular economy concept and by utilizing non-traditional resources. 

The Global Water Organization represents a turning point in international cooperation on water issues. Through research and development programs, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions, it aims to promote water sustainability worldwide. The organization’s mission includes supporting countries and institutions in addressing water challenges holistically by exchanging technical expertise, fostering innovation and R&D, and enabling the development and financing of priority projects to ensure water resource sustainability and equitable access. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi has issued Decision No. 15 of 2025, officially approving a new set of school canteen regulations developed by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition. The move follows the endorsement of the Authority’s Board of Directors and the Fatwa and Legislation Department, and the decision will come into effect upon its publication in the official gazette.

The new decision comes nearly a year after the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition updated its regulations governing food allowed at school canteens. The regulations, issued under Ministerial Decision No 5 of 2021, allow only specific healthy foods while banning items such as processed meats, mayonnaise, caffeinated drinks, and high-salt or artificially colored products.

In a statement released Thursday, the Ministry of Health emphasized that the updated regulations are part of Kuwait’s broader national strategy to protect students from unhealthy dietary habits and to improve the quality of food provided in educational institutions. The aim is to create a supportive, health-conscious learning environment where student well-being is a top priority.

The new framework applies to both public and private schools and outlines comprehensive standards covering facility requirements, staff qualifications, food quality, inspection protocols, licensing systems and accountability mechanisms. These provisions are designed to ensure the availability of nutritious and safe meals across all school settings.

School canteens are now classified into three categories based on service type: Canteens selling only pre-packaged food items; canteens offering ready-made meals; and canteens with on-site kitchens for preparing hot meals. School canteen contractors must now meet stricter licensing criteria, including a minimum of two years of experience in food handling, possession of a valid health permit, and full compliance with safety and occupational health standards.

Canteens are also required to adhere to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) technical regulations, particularly those banning trans fats. The guidelines mandate that daily meals include essential food groups and remain within set calorie limits for each school level. High-fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium foods, especially in breakfast and lunch offerings at private schools, are explicitly prohibited.

The new rules standardize food services across all schools in Kuwait, aiming to promote health equity and improve regulatory oversight. Violators face financial penalties ranging from KD 500 to KD 3,000, with the possibility of suspension for repeat or unresolved breaches — highlighting the seriousness of implementation.

The ministry noted that the regulations were developed through close coordination between the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the Ministries of Health and Education. This collaboration underscores the importance of institutional partnership in supporting student health and cultivating a safe, nourishing educational environment. — Agencies

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi, announced on Thursday the launch of two pioneering medical projects: the country’s first-ever skin bank and a state-of-the-art microsurgery laboratory. These initiatives align with the Ministry’s broader vision to elevate healthcare performance and provide comprehensive, high-quality medical services across the nation.

The announcement was delivered on behalf of the Minister by Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Support Services, Dr Abdullah Al-Fars, during the opening ceremony of the Second Kuwait Multidisciplinary Conference for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The two-day event is organized by the Babtain Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery, in partnership with the Kuwait Surgical Association.

Dr Ahmad Al-Ali, a burn and plastic surgeon at the Babtain Center, elaborated on the upcoming skin bank project, which will be the first of its kind in Kuwait and the wider region. Designed to store donated skin from recently deceased donors, the bank aims to address a critical gap in treating severe and complex burn cases, offering lifesaving care and hope to patients. He affirmed that this initiative would serve as a regional center of excellence for burn care.

Dr Al-Fars also announced that the Babtain Center is preparing to sign a memorandum of cooperation with Harvard University, aimed at promoting joint medical research and facilitating knowledge exchange through mutual visits. This collaboration seeks to strengthen scientific research and enhance the adoption of evidence-based medical practices.

Dr Ahmad Al-Ali

Dr Abdullah Al-Fars

Dr Mohammad Khalaf

The Babtain Center remains Kuwait’s only specialized center for plastic surgery and burn treatment, and one of the most distinguished facilities of its kind in the region. Since its inception, the Babtain Center has played a pivotal role in advancing specialized healthcare in Kuwait. In the past year alone, it treated over 20,000 patients and performed nearly 1,200 complex surgical procedures. In addition to its clinical excellence, the center contributes significantly to training national medical professionals, including its leadership of the Kuwaiti Board of Plastic Surgery’s residency program, whose first cohort is expected to graduate soon.

Dr Al-Fars also noted the center’s pioneering adoption of advanced treatment services such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and laser treatments. He praised the Babtain Center as a model national institution and reiterated the ministry’s full support for scientific and medical initiatives that reinforce Kuwait’s healthcare leadership in the region.

Dr Al-Ali also addressed the joint research program between the Babtain Center and Harvard University’s Department of Plastic Surgery. As part of this collaboration, Professor Kavita Raghunathan, Head of Facial and Cranial Reconstruction Surgery at Harvard, recently visited Kuwait and performed several complex procedures. He added that progress is well underway to formalize a broader memorandum of understanding with Harvard University, led by a distinguished Kuwaiti team including Dr Mohammad Khalaf and Dr Qutaiba Al-Kandari. The initiative will also engage top surgeons from the Kuwaiti Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr Mohammad Khalaf, Head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the Babtain Center and Chair of the Conference, emphasized the conference’s role as a leading scientific platform for showcasing the latest global developments in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Experts from Kuwait, the region, and around the world are taking part. — KUNA