Dr Zaliha Becomes First M'sian Health Minister To Chair A WHO Executive Board Meeting
Dr Zaliha Mustafa will be chairing the meeting from 30 January to 7 February in Geneva, Switzerland.
By Jasmine Chea — 03 Feb 2023, 06:00 PM
Dr Zaliha Mustafa has made history by becoming the first Malaysian Health Minister to chair the 152nd World Health Organization (WHO) executive meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland
According to a Twitter post by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah who was also in attendance at the meeting, Zaliha chaired the WHO Executive Board meeting agenda item 13.1 & 13.2 on poliomyelitis eradication, polio transition planning, and polio post-certification.
"It's the first time in history. This is one of the main achievements of Dr Zaliha, who is on her first official visit abroad since being appointed as Health Minister," Noor Hisham wrote.
This comes after the Malaysian Health Minister was appointed vice-president of the WHO executive board, representing the Western-Pacific region for 2023 and 2024.
"It is an honour and privilege," Zaliha said in a Facebook post.
The meeting will be held from 31 January to 7 February.
Zaliha (left) posing for a photo with chairman of WHO executive board Dr Kerstin Vesna Petrič (middle), and Noor Hisham (right).
Image via Noor Hisham Abdullah (Facebook)To add to her accolades, Zaliha, alongside Noor Hisham, was also invited to join a panel discussion at the prestigious Oxford University in England
The panel was organised by the Oxford University Malaysia Club (OUMC) and Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM).
Zaliha attended the panel discussion before journeying to the WHO executive board meeting.
The Health Minister touched on several subjects during the discussion, from challenges healthcare systems face across the globe to cross-border research collaboration.
Zaliha speaking at the panel discussion held at Oxford University.
Image via Dr. Zaliha Mustafa (Facebook)