Manama, July 26 (BNA) His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister issued today Resolution No. (36) of 2022 establishing and forming the National Task Force for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases as follows. It is referred to as the “Task Force”.
According to the decree, the task force is headed by the Minister of Health and consists of the following members:
1- Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry of Health.
2- Director of the Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health.
3- Director of the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry of Health.
4- Director of Tests and Measurements Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
5- Director of the Animal Health Directorate at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.
6- Director of the Youth Empowerment Directorate at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs.
7- Director of the Environmental Communication and Awareness Department in the Executive Authority of the Supreme Council for the Environment.
8- Director of the Community Partnership Department at the Ministry of Education.
9- Director of the Television Department at the Ministry of Information Affairs.
10- Head of the Psychiatric Hospital.
11- Head of medical services at primary health care centers.
12- Head of the Cardiology Department in Governmental Hospitals.
13- Consultant and Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Specialized Center for Cardiology.
14- Senior Consultant in Family Medicine at Bahrain Defense Force Hospital.
15- Consultant of Endocrinology and Diabetes at King Hamad University Hospital.
16- Member of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
17- President of the Bahrain Cancer Society.
18- President of the Bahrain Anti-Smoking Society.
19- Vice-President of the Bahrain Diabetes Association.
The members of the task force are appointed by a decree from the Minister of Health in coordination with the relevant authorities.
During its first meeting, the task force selects a Vice-Chair from among its members, who will assume the duties of the Chair during his or her absence.
Members must serve for a renewable term of three years. In the event of a vacancy in the position of a member, a new member is appointed from the same entity to complete the term of his predecessor.
The task force undertakes the following tasks:
1- Develop a national plan to combat non-communicable chronic diseases, based on the global strategy, the unified Gulf plan for combating non-communicable diseases, and the Manama Document for combating non-communicable diseases.
2- Laying down executive plans and developing joint programs and activities among the relevant authorities.
3- Supervising and evaluating programs and efforts to combat chronic non-communicable diseases and following up on their implementation.
4- Coordinating efforts with the private sector in combating chronic non-communicable diseases.
5- Spreading health awareness about the risk factors leading to chronic non-communicable diseases.
6- Studying the legislation and regulations related to the control of chronic non-communicable diseases and making recommendations.
7- Supporting the means of research and studies on chronic non-communicable diseases.
The task force leader appoints a general secretary from within the Ministry of Health.
The working group meets at the invitation of its president or vice-chairman at least once every three months or whenever the need arises. The meeting shall be valid if attended by the majority of its members, provided that the chairman or his deputy is among them.
The task force issues its decisions and recommendations by a majority vote of the members present. In the event of a tie, the side on which the president votes wins.
The Chair reports on the work of the task force every three months.
The task force may seek the assistance of experts and specialists it deems appropriate for its duties to attend its meetings, provided that they do not vote in its deliberations.
The president may issue decrees to form sub-committees in the fields he specifies.
Resolution No. (18) of 2012 regarding the National Task Force for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases or any text that contradicts the provisions of this resolution shall be repealed.
The Minister of Health and those concerned – each within his jurisdiction – shall implement the provisions of this resolution, and it shall be effective immediately, and published in the Official Gazette.
WHO / AHN