Kuwait selected to accelerate fight against obesity
In coordination with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization office in Kuwait, and the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, the first national workshop was held to implement the plan to accelerate the elimination of obesity in Kuwait, under the patronage and attendance of the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Munther Al-Hasawi.
This workshop was held considering Kuwait’s nomination as one of 32 leading countries to participate in the global plan to accelerate efforts to eliminate obesity, including five countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The workshop was attended by representatives of several official bodies in the country and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO). It reviewed the implementation of the plan to accelerate the pace of eliminating obesity in the country, with a focus on the expected time frame for achieving it. The participating experts stressed that the plan aims to reduce obesity rates, which constitute a major health burden on societies, by implementing effective strategies based on scientific evidence.
In this context, Dr. Hasnaa Ayyad, Director of the Nutrition and Feeding Department at the Ministry of Health, stated that the selection of Kuwait for this program reflects the country’s strong commitment and conscious leadership to achieve health for all. She added that the development plan and New Kuwait Vision 2035 too included projects aimed at reducing obesity rates in Kuwait.
Ayyad said that at the end of the meeting, it was agreed to develop a national roadmap that aims to accelerate action on obesity in Kuwait through a proven, evidence-based approach. This is done by challenging the status quo, promoting joint efforts across sectors, community awareness, stimulating collective action, and setting a new standard for addressing obesity at the national level.
