Maldives Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has travelled to Geneva to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board meeting, taking place from February 3 to 11.

The meeting will gather health leaders from 34 countries, where they will discuss and make decisions on global health issues.

The WHO Executive Board is responsible for coordinating the organisation's activities, with heads of health from member countries playing a pivotal role in shaping international health policies.

This year, the Maldives will hold the position of Vice Chair of the Executive Board, which also provides the opportunity to chair parts of the meeting.

Since May 2022, the Maldives has represented the South-East Asia region on the WHO Executive Board, a role the country will maintain throughout its three-year term.

The main agenda items for the meeting include improving countries' capacity to respond to health emergencies, advancing universal health coverage in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and addressing the health impacts of climate change. The Executive Board will also examine strategies for ensuring the effective delivery of WHO aid to countries.

Minister Nazim is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event, aiming to secure support for strengthening the Maldives’ health sector.

These discussions will focus on human resource development, public health initiatives, and broader health infrastructure projects.