The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised Sharjah as the first healthy city in the region following the latter’s adherence to all the requirements pertaining to the WHO’s Healthy Cities programme.

Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Advisor at the Ruler’s Office and President of the Steering Committee responsible for managing the integration of Sharjah into the WHO's Healthy Cities programme, said that the recognition came as a result of cumulative work by all sectors in the emirate to provide the necessary health services, based on the directives of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

He expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the steering committee responsible for managing the integration of Sharjah into the WHO's Healthy Cities programme. He also praised the collaboration that occurred between the emirate’s people and various sectors to fulfil the requirements of joining the Healthy Cities programme.

He said that this declaration solidifies Sharjah’s position on the global map and supports its leading role as the first emirate to execute the WHO’s programme at the level of the region, all while aligning with the emirate’s vision to always remain an integrated healthy city and continuously improve its services.

While the accession of Sharjah into the Healthy Cities programme required meeting at least 80 per cent of the WHO’s 80 criteria, Sharjah has so far met 88 per cent of those criteria. Sheikh Essam highlighted that the emirate was able to meet 40 of the criteria before it even joined the programme. – TradeArabia News Service