Dr Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean27 July 2017 - Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, met His Excellency Mr Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti during a mission to Djibouti by a high-level delegation composed of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WFP Executive Director Mr David Beasley and UNICEF Executive Director Mr Anthony Lake.

During his meeting with the President, Dr Fikri reiterated WHO’s support to strengthen the health system in the country by investing in four key priority areas: strengthening primary health care, expanding immunization for every child, establishing a robust disease surveillance system, and planning and investing in the development of the health workforce.

“I commend Djibouti’s significant progress in favour of health. Under-five and maternal mortality have been reduced by half over the last two decades,” said Dr Fikri. “We reiterate WHO’s support to strengthen the health system and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” Fikri concluded.

The delegation also discussed using the framework for cooperation between the country and the United Nations system in Djibouti to accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and Djibouti’s key role in responding to humanitarian crises in the Region.

Dr Fikri receiving the award from the Arab Hospital Federation President, Dr Mohamad Abdallah and the Federation General Secretary Prof. Tawfik Khoja20 July 2017 The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Mahmoud Fikri, received the Arab Award for the Promotion of Public Health during his participation in the Health Economic Forum organized by the Arab Hospitals Federation in Lebanon on 7 July 2017.

Under the theme "HealthCare Priorities and Scarce Resources Allocation” the forum featured more than 20 local, international and regional speakers sharing expertise and experience with the attendees. The Forum was held under the patronage of H.E. General Michel Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic, in the presence of H.E. Mr Ghassan Hasbani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Emad El Din Rady, Minister of Health and Population in Egypt.

Dr Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean18 July 2017 – The WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Mahmoud Fikri, is attending the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, being held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 10 to 19 July 2017.

The High-level Political Forum, the United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is being attended by representatives of all Members States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.

"Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world" is the theme of this year’s forum, during which relevant ministerial and high-level delegates carry out an in-depth review of the SDGs relevant to this theme.

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High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Goals

6 July 2017 – Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, paid a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which he met with H.E. Dr Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Minister of Health and Medical Education and high-level officials. During the 3-day visit, Dr Fikri also participated in a consultative meeting on addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance held 3–4 July 2017. Below are some highlights of the Regional Director's visit:

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, the WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean, began his schedule with an early morning visit to the Shahid Kazemian Urban Comprehensive Health Center, accompanied by Dr Ali Akbar Sayyari, Deputy Minister for Public Health, followed by the meeting with H.E. the Minister of Health Dr Hashemi and a press conference.

After his visit to the Centre and meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr Fikri joined a consultative meeting to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, held at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Through his speech, Dr Fikri emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, urging Member States to follow WHO guidance and United Nations strategies on antimicrobial resistance and acknowledged the achievement of Islamic Republic of Iran as a pioneering state in establishing a framework to address the issue. 

Dr Fikri then visited the WHO country office to meet Dr Sameen Sidiqi, WHO Representative in Islamic Republic of Iran as well as WHO staff members, after which he met with Dr Ali Akbar Sayyari, Deputy Minister for Public Health.

He also attended a meeting with the members of the National Committee on Prevention and Control of NonCommunicable Diseases before visiting Sharif Municipality Health House in Tehran’s downtown. Before Dr Fikri’s departure from Islamic Republic of Iran on the evening of 4 July, he visited the Observatory followed by a reception at Milad Tower.