Bahrain to appoint first woman minister

A woman will be appointed a minister for the first time in Bahrain's history during a cabinet reshuffle to be announced in the coming days, a government official has announced.

A woman will be appointed a minister for the first time in Bahrain's history during a cabinet reshuffle to be announced in the coming days, a government official said Tuesday.

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Nada Haffadh confirmed her appointment noting that as health minister it would also a first in the Arab world. The official said Haffadh, a member of the kingdom's Shura (consultative) council would take over from Khalil Hassan.

"I am honored to be the first woman to enter the government," Haffadh told AFP. I am also honored to be the first woman in the Arab world to hold the health ministry portfolio, which is of major importance," she said.

"My priority will be to find a cure for the disappointments of civil servants because in my view the ministry cannot move forward and provide good services to citizens if its employees are disappointed."

Women voted for the first time in Bahrain during a 2001 referendum on constitutional reforms which saw the restoration of parliament following elections in October 2002.

Conservative Gulf Arab states are moving steadily towards more democratic forms of government, despite resistance from Islamic traditionalists.