Kuwaiti Abdulrahman Al-Qushaan awarded 'Global Health Medal'
The World Health Organization awarded Al-Qushaan a medal in recognition of his regional leadership and efforts in health alignment.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Qusha’an received the “Global Health Medal” from the World Health Organization (WHO), in recognition of his leadership in coordinating the positions of countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region from 2024 to 2026, and his efforts to enhance consensus among member states on international health issues. Dr. Al-Qusha’an emphasized that this honor reflects appreciation for the State of Kuwait and the trust it has earned from countries in the region, noting that the achievement was the result of collective work involving experts, diplomats, and representatives of member states, with the support of the political leadership and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health. The award was presented during the 73rd session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, which concluded its proceedings in Cairo, attended by health ministers, heads of delegations, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who praised Dr. Al-Qusha’an’s efforts in bridging differences and unifying positions. This recognition follows Kuwait’s successful leadership of a Gulf initiative that led to the World Health Assembly adopting, in May 2026, a resolution on the health implications of Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure and supply and energy chains in the region, as well as the repercussions of disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on global health. Dr. Al-Qusha’an led the drafting of the draft resolution and the related negotiations. The resolution, submitted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan, garnered widespread support, with 47 countries joining the list of sponsors. The related agenda item was included in the Assembly’s schedule by a vote of 95 in favor to 8 against. This honor underscores Kuwait’s standing and its role in supporting multilateral health action and enhancing international dialogue and cooperation to address health challenges. Dr. Al-Qusha’an currently serves on the Joint International Working Group on the Reform of the Global Health Architecture.
