Wednesday, 17 March 2021, A WHO team headed by Dr. Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative (WR) to Oman visited AlSibl and Al Hamam healthy village in Wilayat Dama Wa At Taiyin, North Sharqiyah Governorate. The aim of the visit was to connect with the community and to develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the healthy village system in the country.

Upon arrival WR was received by HE the Wali (governor) of Dama and AlTaeyeen Wilayat and the Director General of Health Services- in the Governorate. The program started with a welcoming speech delivered by the chairperson of the village development committee. This was followed by a presentation explaining the process and development of the initiative in the village, focusing on the main findings and indicators from the health survey and highlighting efforts made by local community. A video-show highlighted the main planned and implemented projects in the two villages, to include:

• Conducting an assessment survey.
• Tiling of walking pathway.
• Establishing of a Community Information Centre.
• Constructing of mountain road to stimulate tourism.
• Renovating of the old fort and the football playground.
• Building a Quraan School

Dr Jean Jabbour, Representative of the World Health Organization in the Sultanate of Oman delivered a short speech indicating the role and importance of healthy villages initiative in improving healthy lifestyles and contributing to sustainable development.

The visit also included a tour around the projects implemented in the two villages and a visit to the talent and crafts exhibition: and the village information centre.

The healthy villages initiative in Oman started in 2004 and it is considered one of the most prominent community partnership programs in EMRO.

The initiative is also regarded as one of the community participation tool in the Sultanate which is run and funded by community members and aims to strengthen and qualify community to set and fulfil their needs according to identified priorities.