KUWAIT CITY, June 24: In a move to strengthen Kuwait’s public health research infrastructure, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) held a preliminary meeting on Tuesday with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The discussion focused on enhancing collaborative research in key public health areas, particularly antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its growing impact on humans, animals, and the environment.

KISR’s Acting Director General, Faisal Al-Humaidan, emphasized the significance of scientific and technical cooperation among the three entities in addressing AMR under the “One Health” approach — a globally endorsed framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

“This meeting serves to activate the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year between KISR and WHO,” Al-Humaidan said in a press statement. “The MoU outlines collaborative efforts to advance research in several critical areas, including non-communicable diseases like diabetes and obesity, environmental pollution, epidemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance — all of which directly affect public health outcomes, service delivery, and the sustainability of national financial resources.”

Dr. Abdullah Al-Enezi, Acting Executive Director of KISR’s Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, described AMR as a national health priority. He called for expanding the country’s scientific knowledge base to develop evidence-driven policies to confront this pressing issue. Al-Enezi also acknowledged the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and other relevant national entities in promoting research-led solutions.

Representing the WHO, Dr. Asaad Hafeez commended the collaborative efforts between the international organization, KISR, and Kuwait’s health authorities. He underlined the importance of these partnerships in establishing a robust national response to AMR aligned with the “One Health” strategy.

Dr. Hafeez further revealed that the WHO is working toward establishing a research cooperation center at KISR. This proposed center would facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise and help formulate comprehensive national strategies to mitigate the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.

He reaffirmed WHO’s full commitment to supporting Kuwait in transforming this integrated approach into actionable policies and impactful health practices.