RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Health has won a 2025 UN Inter-Agency Task Force Award for its comprehensive and innovative policies to address obesity and noncommunicable diseases, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The award was given to the MOH by the World Health Organization and the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.
The ceremony took place at the 10th annual Friends of the Task Force Meeting in New York City, held during the recent 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
Mentioned in the award were the MOH’s Sehhaty app, and the Seha Virtual Hospital that is the world’s largest such service.
Also cited were community initiatives including the Healthy Cities Program and Walk 30, which engaged more than 1 million citizens, as well as nutrition policies imposing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and eliminating industrial trans fats.
The WHO also recognized the MOH for setting up a ministerial committee for Health in All Policies to integrate wellness considerations.
“The recognition underscores rapid progress in the health sector and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s role in efforts to prevent NCDs and advance health-related Sustainable Development Goals,” the SPA reported on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia’s Seha Virtual Hospital has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the planet’s largest online medical initiative, leading the way in transforming healthcare accessibility and efficiency through digital innovation.
The facility, linked to over 200 hospitals across the Kingdom, is reshaping patient care by eliminating geographical limitations and integrating advanced artificial intelligence solutions.
Sixteen cities in the Kingdom have been designated as Healthy Cities under WHO criteria. Jeddah and Madinah stand out as the first cities in the Middle East with populations of 2 million or more to receive the WHO accreditation.
The achievement is attributed to continuous improvements in safety, healthcare, infrastructure development and the provision of modern public facilities.
Jeddah’s designation by the WHO as a healthy city is a culmination of the Red Sea coast city’s effort to improves health services and promote a healthy, active lifestyle. (SPA)
