MANAMA — Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has lauded Bahrain’s efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic, expressing the UN health agency’s WHO’s interest in further strengthening cooperation with the kingdom across various health fields. The WHO chief made the remarks during his meeting here on Monday with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who is also the country’s prime minister, the Bahrain News Agency reported. During his meeting with Dr. Ghebreyesus, Bahrain’s crown prince highlighted the country’s relentless efforts to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Prince Salman added that their commitment to safeguarding the health of Bahraini citizens and residents has played an integral role in reducing infection levels. The crown prince underscored the importance of community awareness in supporting Bahrain’s comprehensive COVID-19 response, noting that doubling efforts and continuing to follow all preventative measures are of the utmost importance during the next phase. Prince Salman welcomed Dr. Ghebreyesus’ visit to Bahrain for the official opening of a WHO office in the country, noting that the opening of the WHO office will strengthen an already close partnership between Bahrain and the WHO. Earlier in the day, Dr. Ghebreyesus opened a WHO office in Manama in the presence of Bahrain’s Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh. Speaking on the occasion, the Bahraini health minister said that the establishment of the WHO office will serve to enhance and strengthen the national capacity for proficient health service delivery and help in advancing the global health agenda as stated in the UN SDGs. It will also further enhance Bahrain’s position as a regional health policy leader. The WHO office will be headed by Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, who recently presented her credentials to Minister Al Saleh, and assumed office at the start of June. “Under the leadership of our WHO Representative, Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, the new country office will deliver strategic, technical, policy, and service delivery support to the government in its work to advance health and well-being nationally, regionally, and globally, said Dr. Ghebreyesus. “One of our key goals in our work with the health ministry will be to identify key areas where Bahrain can act as an incubator for best practices, as a regional capacity-building hub, and to expand its role in policy dialogue and health diplomacy,” he added.