GCCMID-2017 opens in Bahrain

Manama : Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa opened the 2nd Gulf Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (GCCMID 2017) at the Gulf Hotel yesterday.

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Salman Al-Khalifa,  the event is being organized by the Bahrain Medical Society in cooperation with the Saudi Society of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the UAE Society of Infectious Diseases.

The opening ceremony was attended by Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla, ministers, senior state officials and invitees from Bahrain and abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa extended thanks to HRH Premier for delegating him to open the three-day congress, which will conclude on the November 4.

He hailed HRH the Premier for his keenness on developing the medical and health sectors, stressing the importance of the congress as key platform to exchange expertise, discuss rare cases ways of treating them, keeping abreast of international standards.

He paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, HRH the Premier and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, lauding the drive of the wise leadership to promote the health sector and develop human resources.

He reiterated the Government’s firm commitment to enhance the standard of the health sector and optimize the use of resources to ensure sustainable and just healthcare services for all people in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The GCCMID 2017 has attracted this year up to 500 participants from all health specialties from the region and Arab world, in addition to 78 keynote speakers – 5 from Bahrain, a number of speakers from the Arabian Gulf region and the Arab World and 32 others from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

The keynote speakers who addressed the opening session extended deepest thanks and appreciation to HRH the Premier for patronizing The GCCMID 2017, paying tribute to the wise leadership and the Government for their dedicated efforts to develop the health and medical sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain and provide quality services to citizens and residents.

BMS Chairman Dr. Mohammed Rafea highlighted Bahrain’s healthcare and medical strides which, he said, were acknowledged by specialized world medical reports and indicators.

He paid tribute to HRH the Premier for patronizing The GCCMID 2017 and hailed his keen interest in giving all priority to promoting healthcare programmes, highlighted the boom in public and specialized hospitals and health centres which cover all regions of Bahrain.