23 April 2025

24 April 2025, Cairo, Egypt – On World Malaria Day 2025, WHO and partners are promoting ‘Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite’, a campaign that aims to re-energize efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination. Malaria remains a significant public health challenge globally. In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million new...

22 April 2025

23 April 2025, Cairo, Egypt – World Immunization Week 2025, observed from 24–30 April, brings together the global health community to highlight the lifesaving power of vaccines and call for renewed commitment to immunization for all. Under the banner Immunization for All is Humanly Possible, this year’s campaign stresses how, with collective efforts and investment, everyone can be protected from vaccine-preventable...

22 April 2025

22 April 2025  Your Highness Princess Nouf bint Muhammad bin Abdullah, Excellencies, Distinguished guests,  It gives me great pleasure to join you here to today to discuss the strategic partnership between the World Health Organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  I am grateful to our gracious host, the King Khalid Foundation, for bringing us together to explore new opportunities for partnership to advance health across...

15 April 2025

15 April 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Two years into the conflict, Sudan’s health system is at breaking point. As the rainy season looms the country faces a perfect storm of disease outbreaks, malnutrition and collapsing services at a time when humanitarian access is dangerously restricted and funding for health is running dry. Today, more than 30 million people in Sudan need...

09 April 2025

9 April 2025  – The Sultanate of Oman welcomed World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy for a 1-day visit, on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, to reinforce collaboration to advance Health for All in Oman and the Region. The highlight of the visit was the launch of Oman’s National Health Policy (NHP), an updated framework...

07 April 2025

Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva, 7 April 2025 – On World Health Day, with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” the Gaza Strip continues to be one of the most dangerous places to be a child and where pregnancy is clouded by fear due to ongoing violence, displacement and lack of medical access.   Between 18 March and 4 April 2025, since the resumption of...

05 April 2025

On World Health Day, marked every year on 7 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for global action to ensure access to high-quality health care for women and babies. Though there has been progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, the Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face significant challenges in ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborns,...

26 March 2025

March 2025, Doha, Qatar – WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy concluded a successful official visit to Qatar aimed at strengthening collaboration on key health priorities, including health emergencies, climate change, humanitarian response, health workforce development and substance use. The visit marked a significant step in WHO’s deepening partnership with Qatar. In meetings with senior Qatari officials...

19 March 2025

24 March 2025 Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge in the Eastern Mediterranean region, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In 2023 alone, the region recorded 936,000 new TB cases and nearly 86,000 deaths. Every 34 seconds, someone falls ill with tuberculosis, and every six minutes, another life is lost. These deaths are avoidable because TB is a curable disease. In our region, treatment...

18 March 2025

18 March 2025 Colleagues, members of the press,  Good afternoon.  Thank you for joining us today.  Before I begin my briefing, I would like to mention that the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal recently launched a two-part series focused on Gaza.   The first issue explores the war’s impacts on health, offering scientific evidence, practical recommendations for policy, advocacy, and interventions, and provides a foundation for future...

18 March 2025

17 March 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan is deeply concerned that funding shortages could force the closure of 80% of WHO-supported essential health care services. Millions, including vulnerable populations such as women, children, the elderly, the displaced and returnees, will be left without access to critical medical care. As of 4 March 2025, 167 health...

06 March 2025

6 March 2025 – “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on 8 March, resonates deeply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) commitment to promote gender equality in the health sector across the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Women are the backbone of the health and social services workforce, comprising approximately...

05 March 2025

5 March 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean celebrated 10 years of collaboration supporting cancer surveillance. The IARC-WHO Regional Office partnership has ensured a decade of progress in the development of sustainable and high-quality cancer surveillance systems in countries across the...

03 March 2025

On the occasion of Obesity Day, 4 March 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent action to tackle the growing obesity problem which is now recognized as one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. This year’s theme, Building a healthy future: tackling obesity through prevention and care, serves as a rallying cry for governments,...

02 March 2025

2 March 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The theme of World Hearing Day 2025, marked annually on 3 March, builds on the previous year’s focus on changing mindsets towards ear and hearing care. This year’s campaign aims to encourage individuals to recognize the importance of ear and hearing health and inspire them to change behaviour to protect their hearing from loud sounds...

01 March 2025

Closing statement Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 28 February 2025 Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Partners, and colleagues, As this policy dialogue on strengthening the public health response to substance use draws to a close, I am heartened by the dedication and commitment you have shown over the past three days, as articulated in the consensus statement agreed today. I want to personally thank you for the...

28 February 2025

Polio campaign in Gaza Strip reaches around 603 000 children with better access 28 February 2025, Jerusalem/Amman/Geneva – A five-day mass polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip concluded on Wednesday, reaching nearly 603 000 children under 10 years of age with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) following comprehensive, simultaneous access to all five governorates during the ongoing ceasefire. The...

26 February 2025

26–28 February 2025, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi, a WHO collaborating centre for substance use, are convening a high-level policy dialogue to strengthen the public health response to substance use in the Region. The meeting, which is part of...

26 February 2025

Opening statement 26 February 2025 Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Partners, We are gathered here today to discuss an extremely grave and urgent matter. A matter that destroys individuals, tears families apart and eviscerates communities. A situation that has only worsened in recent years and―in many corners of our region―is spiralling out of control.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I begin my intervention with some uncomfortable truths. Around the world, an estimated...

25 February 2025

Agreements strengthen cholera response and malaria prevention in Yemen, boost global polio eradication efforts and support dialysis treatment for Sudanese refugees Riyadh 25 February 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) agreed a series of new pledges to deliver life-saving health interventions for people threatened by cholera and malaria in Yemen,...

25 February 2025

Geneva, Switzerland – 25 February 2025 – The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) – one of the most widely embraced UN treaties in history – celebrates the 20-year anniversary of its entry into force this week. The WHO FCTC is the first ever public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO with 183 Parties to the Convention...

20 February 2025

20 February 2025 – Substance use disorders represent one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, with profound consequences for individuals, communities, and societies. Drug use disorders affect physical and mental health, undermine economic stability and national security and strain public health systems. With drug use rising globally, comprehensive policies and treatment programmes are urgently needed. Drug use...

19 February 2025

19 February 2025 – The emergency polio outbreak response in the Gaza Strip is continuing, with a mass vaccination campaign scheduled from 22 to 26 February 2025. The novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) will be administered to over 591 000 children under 10 years of age to protect them from polio. This campaign follows the recent detection of...

16 February 2025

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy paid an official visit to Kuwait between 9 and 12 February 2025. During the visit, Dr Balkhy met with senior officials and leaders in the health, industrial, investment, humanitarian and civil society sectors. Below are some of the highlights of the visit. WHO collaborates with Kuwaiti civil society organizations On...

13 February 2025

13 February 2025 Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to join you in inaugurating the Poliovirus Environmental Surveillance Diagnostic Laboratory at the National Polio Laboratory in Muscat, Oman. This state-of-the-art polio surveillance facility marks a significant milestone in our collective fight against polio and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to public health. On behalf of the World Health Organization and the...

13 February 2025

13 February 2025, Cairo, Egypt – To mark World Epilepsy Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is raising awareness about epilepsy, a common neurological disorder that can affect anyone, at any age. An estimated 4.7 million people with epilepsy live in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It is among the 3 most frequently encountered neurological disorders in primary health care settings in...

13 February 2025

13 February 2025, Cairo, Egypt – As the world observes International Childhood Cancer Day (15 February), the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting the challenges faced by children with cancer in countries affected by conflict and emergencies. In Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, children battling cancer face not...

10 February 2025

10 February 2025  Your Excellency Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Minister of Health of Kuwait, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to join you here today at Kuwait’s second conference on Healthy Cities. Our health is impacted by where and how we live, and most of us live in cities. More than 60 per cent of the Arab population live in urban centres. So...

09 February 2025

February 2025 Esteemed Chair, Your Excellencies, Director-General, It is my honour to brief you on the 71st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. As a new Regional Director, I was pleased to receive strong support from the Committee. The Committee endorsed a strategic operational plan which will guide implementation of GPW 14 in our Region. The plan includes initiatives to strengthen the...

09 February 2025

February 2025 Esteemed Chair, Your Excellencies, Director-General, Ours is the only remaining WHO region with endemic wild poliovirus. We have an immense responsibility, which the region has accepted with confidence and commitment. As 2024 began, we were on the verge of eradicating wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the last two polio-endemic countries. But then came a resurgence, alongside outbreaks of variant poliovirus in...

09 February 2025

February 2025 Esteemed Chair, Your Excellencies, Director-General, The suffering in the Gaza Strip is beyond comprehension. Tens of thousands of people have died, and around 30 000 have life-changing injuries. The health system is ruined. Malnutrition is rising. The risk of famine persists. Families are returning to devastated neighbourhoods. Almost no health facilities remain intact. Our only comfort lies in the courage, dedication and resilience of the people...

06 February 2025

15 January 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The Regional Health Alliance (RHA) Strategic Dialogue, Towards One Regional WHO-UN Health Agenda in 2025, convened 86 in-person and 11 virtual attendees, including the technical focal points and regional directors of the 18 participating UN agencies. Attendees from the 3 levels of WHO included assistant directors general from WHO headquarters, senior management, including directors of...

29 January 2025

29 January 2025 Good afternoon to all journalists and media representatives, and thank you for your continued efforts to shed light on the humanitarian and health situation in our Region — home to some of the most vulnerable people on the planet today. For the first time since I took office, we find ourselves in a moment of fragile hope. A ceasefire...

28 January 2025

Cairo, Egypt, 29 January 2025 – On the occasion of World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments, leaders, communities and individuals to unite, act and eliminate NTDs through bold, sustainable investments. This call is especially important for the estimated 1.5 billion people living in the world’s most vulnerable communities, who are trapped...

23 January 2025

23 January 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Under the auspices of H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health convened a high-level dialogue today at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo. The event brought together national, regional, and global leaders to address one of the most pressing health...

19 January 2025

19 January 2025, Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the Gaza ceasefire, hostage and prisoner release deal, which brings hope for millions of people whose lives have been ravaged by the conflict. The health challenges ahead are immense. The entire population of Gaza has faced multiple displacements. More than 46 600 people have been killed and over 110...

12 January 2025

On 15 January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, under the leadership of Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy, will host a landmark meeting of the Regional Health Alliance (RHA) at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Cairo, Egypt. Bringing together over 80 participants from the 18 UN organizations in the Alliance, the high-level gathering marks a...

28 December 2024

28 December 2024 - WHO is appalled by yesterday’s raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which put the last major health facility in North Gaza out of service. The systematic dismantling of the health system and a siege for over 80 days on North Gaza puts the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk. Initial reports indicate that...

23 December 2024

23 December 2024, Aden, Yemen – Yemen bears the highest burden of cholera globally. The country has experienced persistent cholera transmission for many years, including the largest outbreak – between 2017 and 2020 – recorded in recent history. As of 1 December, Yemen had reported 249 900 suspected cases of cholera, with 861 associated deaths since the beginning of the year....

19 December 2024

Thousands of civilians require reconstructive surgeries and physical rehabilitation. All but one hospital are gradually reopening, while most are not operating at full capacity. 20 December 2024, Beirut, Lebanon – The ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities took effect on 27 November, offering temporary relief for the millions of civilians caught in the conflict in Lebanon. But Lebanon’s suffering did not...

17 December 2024

17 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt – In a significant step towards improving access to essential medicines, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean have signed a memorandum of agreement to establish a pooled procurement mechanism for public health supplies in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The agreement, formalized during the 12th Global Management Meeting...

15 December 2024

Wednesday, 18 December 2024 – The theme of this year’s International Migrants Day – Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights – helps remind us of the positive contributions migrants make to the societies and countries that host them, the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and capabilities, and the urgent need for collective action to...

08 December 2024

12 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt — Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is celebrated annually on 12 December. This year’s theme, “Health: It’s on the government”, underscores the role governments play in ensuring that no one is forced to choose between health care and necessities such as food. To mark UHC Day 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments...

05 December 2024

5 December 2024 – The Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (EMJH) has published a special edition examining the role of taxation in addressing the public health challenges posed by the consumption of tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Consumption of SSBs and tobacco and nicotine products increases the risk of contracting noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular disease and...

04 December 2024

4 December 2024 Good afternoon, everyone, and greetings from Cairo. As we hold our final press briefing of the year, I am reflecting on the steadily increasing health needs of our Region, and the road that lies ahead. This has been a profoundly difficult year, marked by tremendous grief and loss for the people of our Region. The path ahead is fraught with...

03 December 2024

2 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report that highlights how, if left unaddressed, breast and cervical cancers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region could result in the loss of millions of lives and billions of dollars over the next 2 decades. Women’s cancers represent a major public health challenge in the Region, causing...

01 December 2024

This World AIDS Day, I want to emphasize the importance of knowing one’s HIV status. There are an estimated 530 000 people living with HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, but just 38% of them know that they are HIV positive. Only those who know their [HIV] status can access treatment, live healthy lives and prevent transmission to others. Providing voluntary HIV...

26 November 2024

26 November 2024, Cairo/Kabul – WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy recently concluded a 3-day visit to Afghanistan where she met with the country’s de facto authorities, health officials and humanitarian partners to discuss critical health priorities. Central to the discussions were Afghanistan’s efforts to eradicate polio, promote equitable access to quality health care, address substance...

25 November 2024

16 days of activism to end violence against women The 16 Days of Activism campaign is an annual call for action to End Violence Against Women. In February 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We have made some progress since then, but sadly we still have a long way...

24 November 2024

24 November 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to public health, economic growth and development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics is a key driver of AMR. At almost 25% higher than the global average, the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region has the highest antibiotic consumption in the world. Marking...

22 November 2024

More health workers and patients have been killed proportionally in Lebanon than in Ukraine and Gaza 22 November 2024, Beirut, Lebanon – Since 7 October 2023, 47% of attacks on health care – 65 out of 137 – have proven fatal to at least one health worker or patient in Lebanon, as of 21 November 2024. This is a higher percentage than...

19 November 2024

17 November 2024 – Every day, at least 300 people in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region lose their lives due to road crashes, and many more suffer injuries and disabilities. So, we never forget the faces behind the numbers, World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was started in 1993. In 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global...

14 November 2024

Breaking barriers, bridging gaps: uniting to strengthen diabetes well-being. 14 November 2024, Cairo, Egypt – World Diabetes Day, commemorated annually on 14 November, provides an opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes as a global public health issue and emphasize the collective and individual actions needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition. This year's theme, "Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps:...

12 November 2024

12 November 2024, Doha, Qatar – The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will host its seventh edition of the WISH Summit (WISH7) on 13 and 14 November 2024. Over 2 days, more than 3000 health policy-makers, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and practitioners will meet at the Qatar National...

11 November 2024

Dear colleagues, Good morning from Cairo, Egypt. 11 November 2024 - Since our last briefing on health emergencies, the conflict we feared would escalate has intensified, leading to a devastating deterioration in the Middle East, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon. The Famine Review Committee has warned of imminent famine in North Gaza and 15 UN agency leaders have described the...

10 November 2024

10 November 2024 – My first visit to Somalia as Regional Director took place as the country stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, Somalia is reeling from more than 3 decades of conflict and instability, extreme weather events, disease outbreaks and regional fragility. On the other, the country is poised for change. Somalia’s leaders are committed to transformation...

07 November 2024

6 November 2024 – The second round of the polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip was completed yesterday, with an overall 556 774 children under the age of 10 being vaccinated with a second dose of polio vaccine, and 448 425 children between 2- to 10-years-old receiving vitamin A, following the three phases conducted in the last weeks. Administrative data...

30 October 2024

Djibouti is making strides despite the odds. During my visit to the country on 30 – 31 October 2024 I was inspired by the government’s commitment to universal health coverage, even as it grapples with pressures from climate change and migration which place significant strains on health services. Djibouti’s position as a key transit point means it faces unique public health...

23 October 2024

October 2024, Cairo, Egypt ̶ Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally, accounting for 1 in 6 female deaths. Each year, it accounts for around 25% of all cancers diagnosed in women. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, over 130 000 new cases were reported in 2022, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and action. Every October, the...

23 October 2024

23 October 2024, Jerusalem/Amman/Geneva- Due to the escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses across most of northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza, including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and partners have...

22 October 2024

22 October 2024, Gaza, Cairo, Geneva – On 21 October, 14 patients and 10 caregivers were transferred from Kamal Adwan in North Gaza to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City during a high-risk, WHO-led joint mission, amid intense hostilities and access restrictions. Despite an initial agreement, the delivery of critical medical supplies, blood, and fuel—resources essential for keeping Kamal Adwan and...

20 October 2024

A total of 44 countries and 1 territory have reached the malaria-free milestone 20 October 2024 | Geneva / Cairo - The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Egypt as ‘malaria-free’, marking a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants. The achievement follows a nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people to end...

17 October 2024

17 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – WHO has secured an additional US$ 18 million in funding commitments from key partners, to complement US$ 18 million already in the pipeline. The pledges, by ATscale – Global Partnership for Assistive Technology and the Hamdard Foundation, and the pledge by the Islamic Development Bank earmarking the Health Impact Investment Platform, highlight growing global...

17 October 2024

17 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – The Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71), held under the theme Health Beyond Borders, concluded today in Qatar. Following 4 days of intense discussions and the exchange of views and experiences between ministers of health and representatives of Member States, partner organizations and WHO experts, RC71 adopted a series of...

17 October 2024

17 October 2024 Doha, Qatar Your Excellencies, Media colleagues, Distinguished guests, I would like to welcome you to this press conference. We have just concluded the 71st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, which was held from 14 to 17 October 2024, and hosted by the State of Qatar. Before I start, I would like to thank Qatar for their generous hospitality and excellent...

17 October 2024

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 Thank you for joining us for this special event. Today we stand at a critical juncture. The next six years will determine whether we succeed in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 on good health and well-being – in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally. The WHO Investment Round aims to make sure that WHO is optimally placed...

16 October 2024

16 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Mental health is crucial for individuals, communities and nations to achieve their full potential. The Eastern Mediterranean Region is home to 40% of the world’s population in need of humanitarian assistance and hosts 55% of the world’s refugees. Over the past 7 decades, many of the Region’s countries and territories have experienced wars, civil strife,...

16 October 2024

16 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Each year nearly 5 million deaths occur because of trauma and a further 45 million sustain life changing injuries. This exceeds deaths caused by the combined effects of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. In 2023, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 8 Member States each recorded over 1000 conflict-related deaths (range 1038–14 248), including seven Member States...

15 October 2024

Your Excellencies Ministers of Health and Heads of Delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my honour and pleasure to present my report on WHO’s work in the Region to you today. The annual report publication that was shared with you provides extensive information about WHO’s activities and achievements during 2023. It testifies to the hard work, dedication and tenacity of my revered predecessor, Dr...

15 October 2024

Your Excellency Dr Hanan Al-Kuwari, Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to join this launch of the report “Changing the game: strengthening health and well-being through sports events”. The report is one fruit of the partnership between the State of Qatar, WHO and FIFA which aimed to create a lasting legacy out of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It...

15 October 2024

15 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – The incidence of vector-borne diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region has increased significantly in the past decade. Factors include climate change, expanding and unplanned urbanization, international travel and population movement, weakened health systems in countries facing emergencies and other crises, chronic underinvestment in vector control capacity and growing resistance to insecticides. Since 1 January 2023...

15 October 2024

15 October 2024 –The 12th meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks was held during the 71st session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region’s Regional Committee, marking another crucial step in the region’s pursuit of a polio-free future. The session witnessed robust participation, with a high number of interventions from Member States and members of the Regional...

15 October 2024

15 October 2024 – In December 2021, the World Health Assembly established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), tasked with negotiating and drafting a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response efforts. The INB's mission is firmly grounded in the principles of inclusiveness, transparency, efficiency, Member State leadership and consensus. INB’s work on a pandemic agreement...

15 October 2024

15 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Vaccines save over 4 million lives each year. Recognizing their critical role, in August 2020 the 73rd World Health Assembly adopted the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). This global initiative aims to enhance immunization efforts within primary health care systems. Access to essential vaccines remains a pressing issue: 1 in 4 children in the Region lacks...

15 October 2024

16 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to health and health systems. The Global Burden of Disease study recently revealed that 1.14 million deaths were linked to bacterial AMR worldwide in 2021 and the World Bank estimated that after 2023 the global GDP shortfall due to AMR would exceed US$ 1 trillion annually, exacerbating...

15 October 2024

16 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Efficient health information systems (HISs) improve health outcomes and the management of health services by facilitating better-informed policies and planning. In many countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, however, health data are often incomplete, fragmented or of inadequate quality, hindering the ability of decision-makers to formulate timely, efficient and concise health plans. WHO is...

14 October 2024

14 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – The 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean (RC71) opened this morning in Doha, Qatar. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who joined virtually, and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy inaugurated the event alongside H.E. the Minister of Public Health of Qatar Dr Hanan Al-Kuwari...

14 October 2024

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Your Excellencies Dr Tedros, Director General of the WHO Dr Hanan Balky, Regional Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Honourable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته It is with immense pleasure and honour that Qatar is hosting this significant event, the Seventy-First session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean and we are confident that it will...

14 October 2024

Your Excellencies, Regional Director, Dr Hanan Balkhy Distinguished guests, Assalamu Alaikum, Good morning, It is with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the Federal Minister of Health of our beloved nation, Somalia, and as Chair of the seventieth session of the Regional Committee held last year in Cairo. In conducting this role, I have consistently...

14 October 2024

Honourable Minister Dr Ali Haji Abubakar, Honourable Minister Dr Hanan Mohamed Al-Kuwari, Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy, Honourable Ministers and heads of delegation, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends, Good morning, greetings from Berlin, and I apologise that I cannot be with you in person. I thank Qatar for hosting this year’s Regional Committee Meeting, which comes at a very difficult time for the region, with conflict...

14 October 2024

Your Excellencies Ministers of Health and Heads of Delegations, Director-General, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my honour and pleasure to welcome you to the 71st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. This is my first Regional Committee as Regional Director, and I would like to start by thanking our outgoing Chair, His Excellency Dr Ali Haji Adam Abubakar, Minister of Health...

14 October 2024

14 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – An unprecedented series of natural disasters, prolonged conflicts and humanitarian emergencies have left the Eastern Mediterranean Region in desperate need of innovative approaches to build a healthier future for its 750 million inhabitants. Expanding timely and equitable access to life-saving medicines and vaccines, building a more resilient health workforce and reducing morbidity, mortality and the...

14 October 2024

14 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy introduced the new Regional Strategic Operational Plan for the coming 4 years for review and endorsement during the Seventy-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. With the ambitious goal of enabling all peoples of the Region to lead the healthiest lives...

10 October 2024

11 October 2024, Doha, Qatar ‒ The Seventy-first session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean will be held in Doha, Qatar from 14 to 17 October 2024 under the theme health beyond borders: action, access, equity. Ministers of health and high-level representatives of the 22 Member States and territories of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, and representatives of partner...

08 October 2024

I would like to welcome you to this media briefing ahead of the Seventy-first session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean which will convene between the 14 and 17 October in Doha, Qatar under the theme Health beyond borders: action, access, equity. As you will be aware, this year’s session – my first as Regional Director – is being...

03 October 2024

3 October 2024, Oman – World Health Organization Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy visited the Sultanate of Oman between 30 September–3 October, where she met with H.E. the Minister of Health Dr Hilal bin Ali Al Sabti and other senior officials and participated in the First Omani Healthy City Conference in Salalah, Dhofar Governorate. “My meeting with...

02 October 2024

30 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The Eastern Mediterranean Region faces a huge burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Region’s frequent humanitarian emergencies –including conflicts, natural disasters and public health crises – place enormous strain on health care systems, making it particularly difficult to provide specialized care such as renal dialysis. In times of crisis, ensuring...

02 October 2024

1 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – This year’s International Day of Older Persons, celebrated annually on 1 October, adopts the theme Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide. People are living longer, and while the trajectory of each person’s life is different, older people are more likely to experience complex, chronic conditions, the...

01 October 2024

1 October 2024, Islamabad, Cairo, Geneva – In a monumental achievement for public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has validated the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Pakistan. Trachoma is a disease caused by infection by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium and can result in irreversible blindness if left untreated. Pakistan becomes the 19th country globally to reach...

29 September 2024

26 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – On World Heart Day 2024, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean joins the global movement campaigning under the banner ‘Use Heart for Action’ to empower individuals to take responsibility for their heart health and advocate for stronger national cardiovascular health action plans. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death globally. In...

24 September 2024

WHO believes the number of attacks is likely much higher than what is currently verifiable Cairo, September 24, 2024 - The number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan since the onset of the armed conflict in April 2023 has exceeded 100, with 108 incidents verified by WHO until mid-September. WHO believes that the number of attacks is likely much higher than...

23 September 2024

23 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Yazan is a 20-year-old Syrian who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma as a child. The conflict in Syria and resulting humanitarian crisis meant that Yazan struggled to access treatment for his cancer, and he received little support from his school and community. “I was denied entry to my final exams because I couldn’t climb the...

19 September 2024

18 September 2024  – Today marks 100 days since the arbitrary detention by de facto authorities in Sana’a of more than 50 personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions. In addition, four UN staff members have been detained since 2021 and 2023. Attacks on humanitarian workers, including detentions and false accusations, violate international law, endanger...

19 September 2024

19 September 2024, Amman, Jordan – The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for becoming the first country in the world to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy. This significant milestone marks a new era in global public health efforts. “WHO congratulates Jordan on this impressive milestone,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Leprosy has...

17 September 2024

18 Septebember 2024 FIFA and World Health Organization launch global concussion awareness campaign  Suspect and Protect will highlight risks of concussion and provide educational resources for everyone involved at every level of football Knowing the signs and symptoms of suspected concussion and how to protect players can help to make the game safer for all Global campaign is launched in partnership with the World...

13 September 2024

13 September 2024, Jerusalem/Amman/Geneva - Around 560 000 children under ten years old were vaccinated against polio during the first round of an emergency vaccination campaign conducted in three phases from 1-12 September 2024 in the Gaza Strip. The 12-day campaign provided novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to 558 963 children, following meticulous planning and coordination. This involved the...

12 September 2024

Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva, 12 September 2024 - At least one quarter or 22 500 of those injured in Gaza by 23 July are estimated to have life-changing injuries that require rehabilitation services now and for years to come, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of the types of injuries resulting from the ongoing conflict in Gaza: Estimating Trauma...

09 September 2024

Port Sudan, 9 September 2024 — WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy yesterday concluded a two-day mission to Port Sudan, where they reaffirmed WHO's commitment to reaching all Sudanese in need and called on the international community to urgently act to end the extreme health and humanitarian crisis. During their visit, Dr Tedros and Dr...

05 September 2024

Jerusalem, Amman, Geneva, 4 September 2024 – Over 187 000 children under ten years of age were vaccinated with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in central Gaza during the first phase of a two-round polio vaccination campaign, conducted between 1-3 September 2024. Vaccination coverage in this phase exceeded the initial estimated target of 157 000 children due to...

04 September 2024

4 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – On 3 September, as part of its ongoing activities to celebrate World No Tobacco Day 2024, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean organized an event that included an exhibition of drawings by children from the Region on tobacco control and the announcement of the results of the One Voice video campaign on...

02 September 2024

2 September 2024  – Globally, someone is bitten by a snake every 10 seconds, according to estimates. Snakebite envenoming is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by toxins in the bite of a venomous snake. Snake bites are estimated to cause about 81 000 to 138 000 deaths and 400 000 permanent disabilities globally each year. Snake bites are a neglected public health...

19 August 2024

19 August, 2024 Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we stand united in honouring the extraordinary dedication of humanitarian workers who, in the face of extreme adversity, continue to bring hope, relief and essential services to millions in need across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and, indeed, across the world. This day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect those...

06 August 2024

Breastfeeding is important for both child and mother. It protects the baby against illnesses and malnutrition, and also reduces the mother’s risk of diabetes, obesity and even some cancers. Many women do not breastfeed as long as they would like to due to restrictions and commitments. This must change. Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, reiterated on...

06 August 2024

7 August 2024 Thank you for being here. The past two weeks have once again highlighted the scale and complexities of emergencies across our Region. In that short period of time, there have been variant poliovirus strains detected in Gaza, military strikes and assassinations in several countries that further threaten regional security, a declaration of famine conditions in North Darfur in Sudan,...

30 July 2024

30 July 2024  Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva - Today, 85 sick and severely injured patients from Gaza were evacuated to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for specialized care. This extremely complex joint evacuation was supported by the the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Government of the UAE and other partners. This is the largest medical evacuation outside Gaza...

28 July 2024

28 July 2024, Cairo, Egypt – “It’s Time for Action”, urges WHO’s campaign to mark World Hepatitis Day 2024. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally, WHO is calling on governments and communities to intensify efforts to combat hepatitis, emphasizing the need for urgent action. Fighting hepatitis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region raises both significant challenges and opportunities. An estimated 15...

28 July 2024

28 July 2024 – Egypt has officially launched the Egyptian National Guidelines programme. Thirty public health and clinical care guidelines are now available, covering 15 health issues. This is a great start to a remarkable initiative.  “I had the honour of Joining H.E. Dr Khaled Abdul Ghafar, Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Health in the official launch of the Egyptian National...

25 July 2024

Cairo, Copenhagen, Geneva, 24 July 2024—Sixteen people from Gaza with complicated medical conditions will arrive in Spain today to receive care there, through an evacuation process involving the World Health Organization (WHO) and multiple partners. Fifteen of them are children, ranging in age from 3 to 17 years old. The mother of one of the children will also be treated...

24 July 2024

1 August 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Breastfeeding has proven benefits for infants and mums. Yet many women do not breastfeed for as long as they’d like as they lack a supportive environment. This year, the World Breastfeeding Week campaign centres on “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all”. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure a child's health and...

22 July 2024

22 July 2024 – An event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Essential Programme on Immunization (EPI) was hosted by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean on the evening of 17 July 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. EPI is a cornerstone of global public health since it came into being in 1974, originally as the Expanded Programme on Immunization. Over...

18 July 2024

18 July 2024, Cairo, Egypt – World Health Organization Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy today met with Ambassador of Japan to Egypt His Excellency Mr. OKA Hiroshi to discuss ongoing and future collaborations between WHO and the Government of Japan. During the meeting, Dr. Balkhy expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding support from the Government of Japan...

17 July 2024

Given on her behalf by Dr Rana Hajjeh, Director of Programme Management, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Cairo, Egypt, 17 July 2024 Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour to welcome you all here tonight. The 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is truly a momentous occasion. EPI is a cornerstone of global public health. Over the...

17 July 2024

Dear colleagues, Good morning / good afternoon, I’ve just returned from the United Arab Emirates, where I visited WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai. At the time of my visit, WHO staff were preparing supplies to be airlifted to Lebanon and Sudan. I was impressed at how the logistics hub has significantly expanded its capacity to handle the increased demand for emergency health supplies....

12 July 2024

11 July 2024, Cairo, Egypt -- I have just returned from the occupied Palestinian territory, where I visited the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jenin, and Gaza. The situation in Gaza is concerning on both a human and humanitarian level. I saw firsthand the scale of devastation: lives and homes in ruins, hospitals overwhelmed, and a fully destroyed city. Lack of fuel...

11 July 2024

ADRE, CHAD, 10 JULY 2024 – As millions flee war and hunger in Sudan, senior leadership from WHO’s Africa and Eastern Mediterranean Regions converged in Chad, which hosts the largest number of Sudanese refugees, to assess the urgent health needs of people impacted by this complex and deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The mission aims to optimize WHO operations in Chad, Sudan, and...

09 July 2024

9 July 2024 – If we are to achieve the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, we need a paradigm shift, based on a new, more collaborative approach. This must harness the resources of all health actors and ensure that the private sector is also engaged in efforts to achieve public health goals.  On 15–17 July 2024, the WHO Regional Office...

26 June 2024

When we held our first press briefing on health emergencies after I took office about four months ago, I could not have foreseen the escalation of violence in our Region. The situation has grown more relentless and unforgiving, while life-saving aid remains out of reach for too many whose lives depend on it.  In Gaza, the health crisis continues to reach...

15 June 2024

15 June 2024, Jerusalem/Cairo/Geneva -- WHO remains concerned about the escalating health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, where attacks on health infrastructure and increased restrictions on movement are obstructing access to health care.   A spike in violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the war in Gaza started has resulted in the deaths of...

12 June 2024

15 June 2024, Cairo, Egypt – On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024, the spotlight is on older people in emergencies. Older people often face mobility issues, chronic health conditions or social isolation –some of the factors that can hinder their ability to access aid, evacuate safely or receive timely medical care and support services. The chaos and stress of...

06 June 2024

6 June 2024, Cairo, Egypt – “Prepare for the unexpected” is the theme of the sixth World Food Safety Day, marked today by the United Nations. Food businesses, governments and consumers can all help prevent food contamination and foodborne illnesses. Food must be protected at every stage from production to consumption. WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United...

03 June 2024

3 June 2024 – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally. The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) project estimates that 123 834 deaths in the Region in 2019 were directly due to sepsis caused by resistant bacteria, while a further 341 097 deaths were associated with sepsis caused by resistant bacteria. Inappropriate...

30 May 2024

30 May 2024, Geneva, Switzerland/Cairo, Egypt – Eight awards are to be presented at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly to people and institutions from around the world for their outstanding contributions to public health in their countries and globally. Four of the awardees are from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. A special awards ceremony will take place on 31 May 2024 in...

29 May 2024

29 May 2024 – World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) has been marked for 16 years to advocate for hand hygiene as an evidence-based, practical approach to infection prevention and control (IPC) in health care settings. This helps limit the risk of epidemics and pandemics and control the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Countries the world over, including in the Eastern Mediterranean...

28 May 2024

28 May 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – A partnership event to highlight health challenges and opportunities and the WHO journey in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was held in Geneva on 25 May, ahead of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly. Hosted by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy and fellow senior officials, the event included a high-level...

25 May 2024

25 May 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) today signed funding agreements with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) valued at USD 19.4 million to jointly address global health challenges including in emergency responses. The support will reinforce WHO operations and programmes in three countries namely Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The agreements were signed by Dr...

23 May 2024

Young people using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in many countries 23 May 2024 – Geneva / New York / Cairo – The World Health Organization (WHO) and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, are launching today “Hooking the next generation,” a report highlighting how the tobacco and nicotine industry designs products, implements marketing campaigns and works to shape policy...

22 May 2024

23 May 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Each year, globally, there are up to 100 000 new cases of obstetric fistula – a devastating but largely preventable health condition. Over 2 million girls and women worldwide are estimated to be living with untreated fistulas. In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, numerous girls and women across several countries endure this severe childbirth...

18 May 2024

18 May 2024 – I recently returned from Syria, where my goal was to gain a better understanding of the situation, the needs, and the challenges facing our humanitarian work on the ground. I met with senior Syrian officials, key donors, and partners in Damascus. I also visited Homs, Hama, and Aleppo governorates to meet with local health authorities, speak...

16 May 2024

16 May 2024 – Hypertension is a silent yet deadly public health problem. Today, on World Hypertension Day 2024, we remind all adults to get your blood pressure measured accurately and control it to live longer. Early detection and careful management of hypertension are vital. Hypertension is a leading risk factor for premature death and disability – in the WHO Eastern...

14 May 2024

Episode 6 I lead the medical team responsible for staff health and well-being across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Joining the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in 2016 marked a new chapter in my journey of humanitarian work. Today, this spans more than 2 decades of diverse medical and occupational health practice. The Eastern Mediterranean Region is host to a...

12 May 2024

9 May 2024, Doha, Qatar – Yesterday, in Doha, the Ministry of Public Health concluded a 2-day joint workshop with WHO on the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2024–2030. The workshop involved senior officials from the Ministry of Public Health, other relevant ministries and agencies of Qatar, and representatives of WHO, United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. The joint workshop aimed to...

12 May 2024

12 May 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Nurses and midwives make up more than half the health workforce in most countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Today, as we celebrate International Nurses Day 2024, we also reflect on the many challenges faced by nurses in the Region. In the past decade, the density of nurses and midwives has not grown in...

12 May 2024

12 May 2024, Kabul, Afghanistan – WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy recently wrapped up a 3-day visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, following her high-level mission to neighbouring Pakistan with the Chair of the Polio Oversight Board and partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). In Afghanistan, Dr Balkhy met with the de facto authorities and health...

07 May 2024

Islamabad, 7 May, 2024 – WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy, has concluded her inaugural visit to Pakistan. The comprehensive five-day mission spanned Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore, and included high-level meetings with government officials, visits to WHO-supported health facilities, and participation in the subnational polio vaccination campaign. This was also Dr Balkhy’s first visit as part of...

03 May 2024

3 May 2024 – WHO is deeply concerned that a full-scale military operation in Rafah could lead to a bloodbath. More than 1.2 million people are currently sheltering in the area, many unable to move anywhere else. A new wave of displacement would exacerbate overcrowding, further limiting access to food, water, health and sanitation services, leading to increased disease outbreaks, worsening levels of...

01 May 2024

24 April 2024, Cairo, Egypt – World Immunization Week this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Such has been the programme’s remarkable impact on global health that the “E” in EPI today stands for “Essential”. Since 1974, this WHO initiative has inspired countries to use vaccines to do everything humanly possible to safeguard the...

29 April 2024

Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and members of the media, We warmly welcome you to this press conference to mark World Immunization Week. This year, the week coincides with a remarkable milestone – 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, or EPI. When launched in 1974, this WHO initiative started out with a limited series of vaccines against just six childhood diseases....

28 April 2024

24 April 2024, Cairo, Egypt – A Therapeutic Patient Education Expert Workshop held on 21–22 April made significant advances towards developing a regional curriculum for therapeutic patient education (TPE) on diabetes management. A diverse group of regional and global experts came together at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt, to engage in rigorous review sessions, working...

25 April 2024

25 April 2024, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran – Dr Hanan Balkhy concluded her first official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran as the new WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, which took place on 12–15 April. She met with officials and partners to discuss WHO’s work on the ground and how to strengthen collaborations and strategic initiatives...

08 April 2024

Join our ONE VOICE campaign in the runup to World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2024. To take part, record a short video message that speaks to your peers about the sneaky ways that tobacco companies try to get young people hooked on nicotine. You can submit a video if you’re a young person aged 13–35 years and live in...

07 April 2024

7 April 2024, Beirut, Lebanon – WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy concluded a 2-day visit to Beirut, Lebanon, last week at a time when hostilities are escalating on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. The visit that took place on 2 and 3 April represented the third country visit on Dr Balkhy’s official tour of the WHO...

07 April 2024

6 April 2024, Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva - A WHO-led multi-agency mission accessed Al-Shifa Hospital in north Gaza on 5 April to conduct a preliminary assessment of the extent of destruction and identify needs to guide future efforts to restore the facility. The highly complex mission was conducted in close partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations...

07 April 2024

Episode 5 My journey with WHO began in 2007, following years of service with Yemen’s health ministry and a Belgian nongovernmental organization dedicated to assisting people with disabilities. Al-Hudaydah, nestled by the Red Sea, presents unique challenges. It has experienced years of conflict and continues to suffer consistent instability. This has escalated in the past few months, as the impact of the...

04 April 2024

4 April 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) today launched a joint programme to support the health system responses of the governments of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to climate change adaptation and risk reduction over the coming two years.  The programme, operating...

04 April 2024

7 April 2024, Cairo, Egypt – “My health, my right”, the theme for World Health Day 2024, is a reminder that health is a fundamental right that must be ensured for every human being. Health as a human right is recognized in the WHO Constitution, and the right to health has been central to WHO’s identity and mandate since the start. Health...

01 April 2024

1 April 2024 – As of January 2024, Iraq has achieved the polio transition process in full. It is the first country among the polio transition priority countries to achieve this remarkable feat. Polio transition involves repurposing polio assets – knowledge, network and infrastructure – to strengthen the broader public health functions of a country within the overall context of strengthening the...

26 March 2024

Statement by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean 26 March 2024– On behalf of the World Health Organization, it is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic loss of one of our dedicated team members, Engineer Emad Shehab, in Deir-ez-Zor City, Syria, who lost his life in the early hours of Tuesday morning when his building was...

25 March 2024

The country faces an alarmingly high malnutrition rate, with nearly 2.4 million children aged under 5 years suffering from stunting. 25 March 2024, Cairo, Egypt – The conflict in Yemen enters its 10th year today, with over half of the country’s population in desperate need of aid and an estimated 17.8 million people requiring health assistance, 50% of them children. “It’s almost...

24 March 2024

24 March 2024 Thank you for gathering here today on World Tuberculosis Day. As one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world, TB remains a pressing challenge to all WHO regions. In September 2023, the United Nations General Assembly convened its second high-level meeting on tuberculosis, at which Member States renewed their commitments to advance global, regional and national...

23 March 2024

24 March 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the world’s deadliest diseases, although it is both preventable and curable. Today, on World Tuberculosis Day, WHO and partners worldwide unite to renew the commitment to end the global TB pandemic. Every year, 10 million people globally fall ill with TB. An infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs...