MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) - A woman was appointed to Bahrain's Cabinet for the first time Wednesday in a reshuffle by the king, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Nada Haffadh, a family physician and member of Bahrain's upper house of parliament, was appointed health minister, the official Bahrain News Agency reported. She replaced Khalil Hassan, appointed in 2002. Haffadh's appointment, in the form of a royal decree, was the first reshuffle since the country's first elected parliament in nearly 30 years was reinstated in 2002.
| Hmmm, family physician, political type, now going to be a minister -- could it be an outbreak of competence? What if it's contagious? |
Bahraini women have played an active role in the society for over half a century and hold posts in ministries, banks and development organizations. Bahrain is the only country in a region dominated by traditional monarchies to have women in the parliament. |