Dr. Zaliha Mustafa was the first Malaysian Minister of Health to be appointed to chair the 152nd Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board Meeting, which took place from January 30 to February 7 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, WHO Director-General, stated that the award was the first in the country’s history and in his 10 years of involvement with the WHO.

Dr. Noor Hisham stated that Dr. Zaliha was honoured to chair the meeting after being appointed as the Western Pacific region’s vice-chairman of the WHO Executive Board for 2023-2024.

“This is the first time in the history of our Health Minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, to chair the 152nd Session of WHO Executive Board Meeting on poliomyelitis eradication, polio transition planning, and polio post-certification.

“This is one of the most significant achievements of Dr Zaliha, who is on her first official visit abroad since being appointed Minister of Health,” he tweeted.

The WHO Executive Board meeting is a regular gathering of health ministers, directors-general, and health experts.

It is a forum for the discussion of WHO-agreed upon commitments, policies, programme implementation status, and the direction of the health sector.

Info source – Malay Mail