In an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation in the field of public health and disease control, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, hosted the third meeting of the technical committee of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, in the presence of liaison officers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with the aim of discussing ways to strengthen communication networks and exchange knowledge and experiences to raise the levels of public health and response. To address common health challenges, and to develop and strengthen cooperative frameworks among member states in the areas of disease prevention and control, including the exchange of health data, information, and best practices. The most important activities that the Gulf Center will host during the current year were also reviewed, and the support required from communication officers for the success of these activities to achieve the goals and vision of the Gulf Center.

A number of topics were also discussed during the meeting, including responding to pandemics, enhancing health security, and developing effective strategies for health awareness and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases.

Dr. Bassi Panthenin, CEO of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, stressed in his opening speech the importance of this meeting as a platform for cooperation and coordination between Gulf countries in the field of public health, noting that “the health challenges we face are common and require unified and sustainable efforts to overcome them.”
The meeting concluded with the importance of enhancing cooperation and joint work to achieve public health goals and ensure health security for the peoples of the region, with an emphasis on continuing to exchange knowledge and experiences and support research and studies in the field of public health.
This meeting comes within the framework of the Gulf Center’s ongoing efforts to enhance joint health work and develop national and regional capabilities in the field of disease prevention and control, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation and solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals related to health and well-being.