UAE President, WHO chief discuss Gaza health challenges

The UAE's President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

During the meeting at Qasr Al Bahr, they emphasised the importance of bolstering international health cooperation, in light of the serious impact of diseases and pandemics worldwide.

Dr. Tedros congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on the successful hosting of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) and praised the significant attention given to the health sector at COP events for the first time.

The WHO Director-General praised the President for his initiatives in combating diseases and epidemics on a global scale, and hailed the UAE's role in supporting the organisation and its health programmes.

Dr. Tedros also commended the UAE's efforts in providing humanitarian and health support to the Gaza Strip, including the initiative to host 1,000 Palestinian children along with their families for treatment in UAE hospitals, in addition to providing treatment to 1,000 cancer patients, as well as establishing a field hospital in the Gaza Strip.