His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), received Dr Tasneem Ghaleb Atatreh, Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, accompanied by Ms Eunsu Kang, Communications Assistant at WHO. 

The discussion centred on several topics related to developing sustainable health policies in universities and educational institutions, as well as creating a healthy educational and work environment, particularly as Dr Atatreh’s tenure in the Kingdom of Bahrain draws to a close and she prepares to transition to the Organisation’s branch in the Republic of Turkey.

During the meeting, Dr Al Fuhaid praised the distinguished partnership between AGU and the WHO in Bahrain. He expressed his profound appreciation for the efforts exerted by Dr Atatreh throughout her time in the Kingdom, while also emphasising the vital role universities play in enhancing public health and community wellbeing, highlighting the importance of continuing this fruitful collaboration.

Dr Al Fuhaid reaffirmed the need to further develop the health sector to enhance the efficiency of health services and ensure their sustainability, contributing to the comprehensive development goals. He further underscored the significance of consolidating cooperative pathways with various specialised health organisations and institutions to enrich the health system in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC states with best practices, thus bolstering the capabilities of the national workforce across all medical fields and enhancing the health and safety of all.

For her part, Dr Atatreh expressed her gratitude for the continuous support provided by the Arabian Gulf University, which has played a crucial role in advancing university health policies. She also conveyed her optimism about the continuation of cooperation between the organisation and the university in the future to achieve sustainable health objectives.

The meeting, which was also attended by Prof. Abdelhalim Deifalla, Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, covered several key points, including strengthening the partnership between the Arabian Gulf University and the WHO, discussing the concept of healthy cities, and exploring ways to provide a healthy educational environment that aligns with the best global standards. Additionally, they discussed ways to support health initiatives and programmes that contribute to the development of students and staff at universities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr Al Fuhaid extended his best wishes to Dr Atatreh for her future endeavours in Turkey, while reiterating the Arabian Gulf University’s readiness to continue its fruitful collaboration with the World Health Organization.