General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, received His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Southern Governor; Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health; and Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, on the occasion of the Southern Governorate being awarded the WHO’s accreditation certificate as a "Healthy Governorate."

Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah affirmed that accrediting the four governorates under the WHO Healthy Cities initiative is the result of the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which aim to achieve sustainable development goals and improve the quality of life for all citizens. He commended the support and follow-up of the Government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The minister congratulated the Southern Governorate on this qualitative achievement, reaching full Healthy Governorate status through a series of initiatives and development projects, and expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Health for its partnership and role in accrediting all Bahrain governorates as Healthy Governorates, wishing everyone success in serving the nation.

Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad said that accrediting the Southern Governorate as a Healthy Governorate represents a prominent national milestone added to Bahrain’s distinguished health achievements. She noted that it reflects the vision of His Majesty the King and the directives of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She thanked the Ministry of Interior, the four governorates, and all government and community institutions for their joint efforts, which contributed to achieving this sustainable accomplishment.

The Healthy Cities programme provides an international framework to improve health, environmental, economic, and social aspects through effective partnerships between the Ministry of Health, the governorates, and relevant authorities.

The programme, which aims to raise community awareness, includes 80 criteria across several areas, including community organisation for health and development, inter-sectoral partnerships, water, food safety and health development, emergency preparedness, and others.