01st June 2012, Male'; The Delegates at the 65th session of the World Health Assembly, currently taking place in Geneva, have appointed the Maldives to the World Health Organisation's Executive Board for a 3-year term. The Executive Board is the WHO's main body mandated to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, to advise it and generally to facilitate its work. The Maldives was also appointed as Vice-President of the 131st (current) session of the Executive Board.
The Executive Board (EB) is composed of 34 member states and meets twice a year. The main EB meeting is held in January each year. At this meeting EB members approve the agenda and resolutions for forthcoming World Health Assemblies. A second meeting of the EB each May focuses on administrative issues.
The Maldives membership starts at the EB meeting to be held immediately after the current 65th World Health Assembly. The Maldives will be represented at the meeting by Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, Minister of Health, and Ms.Geela Ali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. The Maldives will also serve as the Vice-Chair of the 131st session of the EB.
Speaking after the appointment, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdul Samad Abdulla said: "The Maldives has enjoyed a long and productive relationship with the WHO, a relationship which has been central to the remarkable progress made by the Maldives in the area of health. Our appointment as member and Vice-Chair of the Executive Board marks a recognition of that progress and will enable our partnership with the WHO to further develop".
ENDS