The Extraordinary Meeting for the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers was concluded here today. In a press conference following the meeting, Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also the Head of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, said that the Executive Bureau issued "Riyadh Declaration" in which it stressed the importance of coordinating and integrating efforts among Arab countries to confront swine influenza A(H1N1), praising the initiative of the Saudi Government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to convene this extraordinary meeting. Executive Bureau approved the formation of a committee of experts to review the proposed Saudi advisory plan and all Arab plans in order to take advantage of different experiences to formulate a unified plan. Riyadh Declaration issued several decisions, including the activation of exchanging information, consultation and coordination with relevant international organizations and bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the provision of an appropriate strategic stock of anti-retroviral drugs in every country. The Executive Bureau encouraged Arab countries to locally manufacture such drugs and ensure the compliance with international standards.
