The government of Bahrain prepares to welcome Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), as the country's status as a leading center of public health expertise is acknowledged with the opening of a new WHO office. Dr. Ghebreyesus' visit comes as Manama was recently awarded the title of "Healthy City 2021" by the WHO. The city has been recognized for its commitment to creating an environment conducive to human well-being, the first Middle East capital to earn the distinction. Dr. Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, accompanied by Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, will conduct a two-day visit to Bahrain to officially open the WHO office in Bahrain. The establishment of the office in Manama will further develop an already close working relationship between the Bahraini government and the WHO. The WHO's presence in Bahrain will facilitate the collaboration between authorities to ensure that the experience in Bahrain can be shared with others more easily especially on actions taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic most effectively. The director-general will meet Bahrain's Health Minister Faeqa Bint Saeed Al-Saleh and other top health officials upon arrival in the kingdom. He will also visit COVID-19 vaccination and testing facilities, and monitor measures taken by Bahrain to protect the health of citizens and residents. The tour will give the WHO chief a first-hand opportunity to inspect Bahrain's vaccination infrastructure, which has vaccinated over 70 percent of the population, a feat which was described by his colleague WHO's Bahrain representative Dr. Tasnim Atatrah as a "momentous achievement." Last summer, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus lauded Bahrain's virus strategy in a letter sent to Health Minister Faeqa Bint Saeed Al Saleh commending Bahrain's holistic response to the pandemic and its proactive efforts to establish the necessary testing and healthcare infrastructure. The director-general also praised the manner in which Bahrain's government co-operated with the WHO to monitor the development of the pandemic and to take necessary action in a timely manner. On Monday, (July 26 ), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus will open Bahrain's WHO office, which is set to be led by Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, who recently presented her credentials to Bahrain's health minister and assumed office at the start of June. A press conference has been scheduled to allow Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus an opportunity to comment on the WHO office's opening and Bahrain's efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
