interview June 2023 www.womanthismonth.com 20 KEEPING THE KINGDOM SAFE You recently won a prestigious award, please can you tell us more about that and how proud you feel? The Nelson Mandela Prize for Health Promotion was established in 2019 at the initiative of the Ministers of Health of the Member States of the African Region. It is awarded to persons, institutions and governmental or non-governmental organisations who have made a significant contribution to the promotion of health. The award is intended to reward work that has extended beyond the call of normal duties and is not just a recognition of a professional’s hard work, but is also a testament to the dedication and passion for making a positive impact in the world. Throughout my 37 years of working in the health sector, whether as a physician, manager or leader, and during my voluntary work with society, health promotion has always been at the heart of everything I do, and I must say that it has been a rewarding experience. Seeing people adopt healthy lifestyles and make positive life changes is a testament to the effectiveness of health promotion in bringing about positive change. What does the NHRA have as strategic aims to achieve for 2023 and then for the next five years? We aim to achieve our vision through three strategic goals: 1. A regulated and accountable healthcare sector. Ensuring that all healthcare facility professionals, medicines and medical devices registered in the Kingdom of Bahrain meet the required licensing standards. 2. Safe and trusted health services. Through continuous assessment of the quality of health services provided to ensure compliance with accreditation standards and ensure the safety of medicine and medical devices used in the health sector and safety of clinical research. 3. Protected health rights. By preserving Dr Mariam Al-Jalahma is one of the most important people in Bahrain’s medical sphere, achieving award-winning success in her role as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Regularity Authority (NHRA) and as a Member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19). She spoke to Bahrain This Month to discuss her tremendous achievement, the NHRA’s postpandemic strategy and the general state of the health industry in the Kingdom.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==