Ways to curb chronic diseases, road accidents spotlighted

Manama, Apr. 12 (BNA): President of the Supreme Council for Health Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa chaired today a work meeting held via the Visual Communication Technology (VCT) at the council's premises. Th meeting, attended by Health Minister Sadaq bin Abdul Karim Al Shehabi, and including US-Based World Bank Group and Paris-based Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), discussed mechanisms of curbing chronic diseases and road accidents in Bahrain. Head of the World Bank Group team of experts Dr. Feras bin Ra'ad also participated. Shaikh Mohammed stressed keenness on providing people in Bahrain with quality health services, in line with the directives of the leadership. He urged to map out a common work plan between the competent international institutions, the Supreme Council for Health and the Health Ministry to curb chronic diseases in Bahrain. He also underlined the need for coordination with the Interior Ministry to study ways of curbing road accidents. The Health Minister voiced the ministry's readiness to cooperate with the consultative mission should an agreement be reached between the relevant parties to form it. He stressed that Bahrain has an adequate data base concerning road accidents and chronic diseases which will facilitate evaluation of the situation and suggesting suitable solutions.