General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, received Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, and Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health, on the occasion of the World Health Organisation (WHO) awarding accreditation to Muharraq and Northern Governorates as "Healthy Governorates".
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah extended congratulations to Muharraq and Northern Governorates for this national achievement, expressing appreciation to all members of both governorates for their efforts which resulted in each becoming a fully recognised healthy governorate.
He indicated that the implementation of the Healthy Cities Programme contributes to achieving the objectives and requirements of sustainable development and advancing national progress, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with the support and follow-up of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Interior Minister emphasised the importance of this achievement in improving quality of life and promoting the principle of community partnership to achieve public health objectives. He also directed the Southern Governorate to continue its procedures within the global Healthy Cities Programme and to obtain international accreditation, in preparation for the declaration of all governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain as healthy governorates.
He expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health for its role in achieving this international accreditation, commending the initiatives and development projects launched and implemented by both governorates in cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities, which contribute to enhancing communication with citizens and meeting their needs. He wished everyone continued success in serving the Kingdom.
The Northern Governorate met the accreditation criteria according to the WHO’s evaluation visit in November 2024, while Muharraq Governorate met the criteria following the evaluation visit in February 2025.
The Healthy Cities Programme is an international framework to improve health, environmental, economic, and social aspects through an effective partnership between the Ministry of Health, governorates, the local community, and in coordination with relevant entities.
The programme, which aims to raise community awareness, includes 80 criteria distributed across several domains, including community organisation and mobilisation for health and development, inter-sectoral partnerships, water, food safety, health development, emergency preparedness, education, and others.
The meeting was attended by Ali Abdulhussain Al Shaikh Khalaf Al Asfoor, the Advisor for Community Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Hanan Hassan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.