Kuwait city: The first Gulf Pediatric Conference commenced in Kuwait on Saturday, organized under the auspices of Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi and GCC Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi. Dr. Al-Awadhi, delivering the opening address, highlighted the conference as a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration among GCC countries, aimed at enhancing healthcare services for children.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the three-day conference assembles a prominent group of GCC physicians, specialists, and international medical institutions to foster cooperation in developing national programs for children’s healthcare. Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized Kuwait’s longstanding commitment to child health, recognizing the importance of early childhood care in human development and supporting scientific research and education in this field.
The conference provides a platform for dialogue among experts and aims to expand academic and research collaboration. It seeks to initiate joint projects that align with healt
h and developmental objectives in the Gulf region. Dr. Al-Awadhi noted that these initiatives are crucial for advancing pediatric healthcare services.
Jasem Al-Budaiwi, in his remarks, commended Kuwait for hosting the conference, describing it as a forward-thinking step in the Gulf’s healthcare strategy. He highlighted the GCC’s prioritization of health as a developmental foundation, with a robust health system comprising numerous hospitals and health centers designed to serve both citizens and expatriates effectively.
Al-Budaiwi also pointed out that child health is integral to the Gulf society, with a significant population of children and teenagers across GCC states. He emphasized the importance of programs and campaigns targeting youth health, which have successfully reduced disease prevalence and improved life quality. Vaccination efforts, he noted, have led to a substantial reduction in infant mortality rates over the past fifty years.
The conference aligns with the broader Gulf health strategy for 2
026-2030, which focuses on developing health infrastructure and ensuring health security across the region. Al-Budaiwi concluded by affirming that the GCC’s health structure is designed to integrate awareness with a comprehensive system to address future health challenges.