Algerian Radio
The Minister of Health, Professor Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, received on Monday evening at the ministry's headquarters, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Algeria, Ms. Anna Block Mazoyer, in the presence of officials from the central administration.
The meeting was dedicated to discussing ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Algeria and the Kingdom of Sweden in several priority areas within the health sector, particularly road safety, breast cancer prevention, and rare diseases, as well as training, knowledge transfer, and enhancing partnership between health and academic institutions in both countries.
At the beginning of the meeting, both parties praised the strong historical relations between Algeria and the Kingdom of Sweden, emphasizing their mutual commitment to upgrading bilateral cooperation to serve common interests and enhance the exchange of expertise in the medical field.
The two sides discussed ways to develop cooperation in the field of road safety by utilizing the pioneering Swedish experience in preventing traffic accidents and reducing their health, social, and economic impacts, within the framework of supporting national efforts aimed at promoting prevention and protecting citizens' health.
They also discussed prospects for cooperation in breast cancer prevention, focusing on strengthening awareness and sensitization programs, particularly during the "Pink October" campaign, and benefiting from the Swedish experience in this field through real-life testimonies of women who have recovered from this disease, given its positive impact in encouraging women to undergo early detection.
The Minister of Health reviewed the efforts made by Algeria to strengthen neighborhood health, particularly by intensifying awareness and sensitization campaigns, and expanding early breast cancer detection programs through equipping local health institutions with mammography devices to ensure screening services are brought closer to female citizens and to improve early diagnosis opportunities.
The meeting also touched upon ways to enhance cooperation in the field of rare diseases, and to benefit from Swedish expertise in early diagnosis, patient care, and the development of specialized training and treatment protocols.
The Minister emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries in training and knowledge transfer by establishing twinning programs between Algerian medical schools, university hospitals, and health institutions and their Swedish counterparts, thereby contributing to the development of medical and paramedical competencies and elevating the quality of health services.
For her part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Algeria, Ms. Anna Block Mazoyer, confirmed her country's readiness to continue supporting and developing bilateral cooperation in health areas of mutual interest, translating the shared will of both countries into concrete cooperation projects that benefit both healthcare systems.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties renewed their joint commitment to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding its scope, in a manner that serves the development of the healthcare systems in both countries and consecrates a partnership based on expertise exchange, prevention, and improving the quality of healthcare.
