Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, International Affairs Office

Published on: 14 February 2024

The 28^th meeting of the member countries of Group Five with the theme of "Women's and Family Health" began on 13 February 2024 in Teran, Iran, with the presence of the Vice President of Women and Family Affairs, the Minister of Health and health authorities and experts of the member states and the representative of the World Health Organization in Iran. G5 member states including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and the World Health Organization have attended the meeting.

The general purpose of this meeting is to identify joint solutions to improve the health of women and the family.  In this three-day meeting specialized panels will be held to review of the latest status of indicators, programs and achievements of women's health, review of the most important challenges and threats to women's health in the member countries and review of the most important approaches and future plans and prospects of women's health at the regional level.

It should be noted that the World Health Organization, as the main member of the Group of Five (G5) Secretariat have invited experienced consultants in the field of women's health from EMRO office of WHO to take part in this important event via videoconference sessions.

H.E. Dr. Bahram Eynollahi, Iran’s Minster of Health and Medical Education at the inauguration ceremony said: “The main objective is improving regional countries' health. Mother's health is the pillar of a family’s health, which leads to the expansion of health in a country. So, mothers have a central role in the family”.

He announced the provision of 99 free services for pregnant mothers in the country and stating that: “In order to have children, improve the health of mothers, prevent and reduce the infertility of couples, we provide free insurance services, we have a program called the youth of the population. And now it is being fully implemented”.

Dr. Bahram Eynollahi added: “Under the auspices of the Islamic revolution in Iran, maternal deaths have decreased from 245 cases per 100,000 live births to about 23, and the life expectancy of women has increased from 54 to 78 years”.

The Iran’s Minister of Health emphasized: “Among the recent actions of the 13th government, all treatment services for children under 7 years of age will be provided free of charge in government hospitals”.

Dr. Bahram Eynollahi continued: “All the G5 countries give importance to the family, their main focus is the family, the mother has a leadership role in the home, and it is effective in promoting healthy nutrition, creating loving relationships, healthy lifestyle. The family physician program has been implemented in Iran in this year and we will hold the first International Congress on PHC for UHC through family health program will be held in Teran, Iran, 5-6 March, 2024”.

Referring to the importance of women in promoting health, the Minister of Health stated: “Women make up half of the country's society and play a central and fundamental role in providing health care, and the family will be a successful model centered on women”.

Dr. Bahram Eynollahi stated that: “Today with the independence and guidance of the leadership, we have made great progress in the field of health in Iran. We have many commonalities in the region states such as cultural, social, beliefs and the existence of common diseases, emergencies and natural disasters, and we can have common solutions through establishing health and treatment cooperation”.

He continued: “Cooperation with neighboring countries is inevitable, and we hope to achieve good success by holding regular events”.

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Niknam, Special Assistant to the Minister, Director General of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Head of the Group of Five Secretariat at the Group of 5 meeting on the topic of women and family health stating that we have witnessed the deepening of the sense of cooperation among the Group of Five member countries in promoting health in the region, and expressed hope that the 28^th meeting of the Group of Five will bring fruitful results for women's health in the region.

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Niknam announced the holding of this summit with the focus of "women's and family health" and said: "In the 13th government, we are witnessing regular and consecutive meetings and deepening the sense of cooperation between the member countries of the Group of Five."

He considered the theme of this meetings has been be taken from the second verse of Surah Ma'idah and by recalling verses and traditions about cooperation and cooperation and helping people, he clarified: “Just as cooperation and helping fellow Muslims is necessary, avoiding helping the oppressors is a must and we should not remain silent against the crimes of a cruel such as Zionist regime the holy Ghods Land”.

The Head of the Group of Five Secretariat continued: A lot of effort and planning has been done to hold this summit and we hope that the results of the summit and the three specialized panels and roundtables on physical, mental and spiritual health in this meeting will lead to improving health in the region, especially women's health”.

In this ceremony, Dr. Ansieh Khazali, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, referring to the strengthening of universal health insurance coverage in Dr Raeisi’s government, reminded: “Pregnant mothers are covered for free until the end of the breastfeeding period and their children until the end of the 5th year”.

Appreciating the Ministry of Health for the insurance coverage of infertility treatment, she emphasized that: “Providing health care and education to pregnant women and mothers is also very important. For instance, 99 free services are provided to pregnant mothers in the health system, and on the other hand, the provision of telephone consultations and numerous screenings for pregnant women and mothers and their babies has preserved their health”.

Referring to the significant reduction in the mortality of pregnant mothers as one of the successes of the country, Dr.  Khazali stated that maternal mortality has decreased from 245 per 100,000 live births before the Islamic Revolution to 23 per 100,000 live births.

Also, infant mortality has decreased from 110 per thousand live births before the Islamic Revolution to 8 per thousand live births, which is part of the country's achievements in improving public health, she concluded.

In a sideline meeting with Dr.Syed Jafar Hussein, the representative of the World Health Organization in Iran, and Dr. Farshidi, the Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Tabatabaei, Advisor to ZAUMS Chancellor for International Affairs, discussed expediting the implementation of joint projects of the World Health Organization and Zahedan University of Medical Sciences aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality using telemedicine technologies and presenting the initial achievements of this project  at the upcoming International Family Health Congress, which will be held by the Ministry of Health in the near future.

Also, in a joint meeting with the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, while explaining the achievements of the maternal health program in Sistan and Baluchistan Province he announced that Zahedan University of Medical Sciences is ready to exchange experiences, train human resources and build the capacity of health programs to improve health status of women in Afghanistan. In this meeting, it was decided that the Afghanistan respected delegation would announce the priorities areas for developing a future cooperation plan with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

Copyright © 2024 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 14/02/2024

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us on:  internationaloffice@zaums.ac.ir

Meeting Agenda