Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, addressing the meeting during the first session»Meeting full documentation30 January 2013, Dubai – Delegates at a United Nations-convened high-level meeting on saving the lives of mothers and children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region today agreed to urgently accelerate progress...

MDGs 4 and 5 aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, respectively28 January 2013, Dubai – Ministers of health and high-level representatives from 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region will meet in Dubai from 29 to 30 January to agree on approaches to reduce maternal and child mortality and accelerate progress...

Shortages in life-saving medicines are having a devastating impact on the lives of ordinary Syrians24 January 2013 – 22 months of conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic have resulted in substantial damage to the national health system. 55% of public hospitals and 10% of public health centres have been damaged or destroyed, and functioning...

14 January 2013 – In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as in other regions, women and newborn children are among the most vulnerable population groups. Ten countries are still at risk of not achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 by 2015, and health indicators for these two population groups continue to be a cause for alarm in several...

MDGs 4 and 5 aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, respectively27 January 2013 – Addressing the health of mothers and children is at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and health and development index. It is the subject and focus of several United Nations and WHO resolutions adopted by all Member States. To...

The newly established emergency support team will provide dedicated support for the Syrian crisis and neighbouring countries. Photo credit: IRIN15 January 2013 – In light of the continuing crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic and its impact on neighbouring countries, WHO is establishing an emergency support team to provide technical and...

9 January 2013 – To date, a total of nine laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with the novel human coronavirus have been reported to WHO – five cases, including three deaths, from Saudi Arabia, two cases from Qatar and two cases (both fatal) from Jordan. The novel coronavirus first raised concerns in September 2012 when it caused severe...

Photo credit: Sigrun Roesel24 December 2012 – As the year draws to an end, WHO reflects on the key public health milestones that have been reached in 2012, including the end of polio transmission in India and meeting the Millennium Development Goal target on drinking water ahead of schedule. Governments made important decisions on combating...

Source: Arab Human Rights Fund9 December 2012 – Four United Nations organizations issued today a joint statement calling for everyone to stand up to the epidemic of violence against women. UN Women, WHO, UNFPA and UNAIDS are fully committed to stopping violence against women and to ensuring the security, safety and dignity of women and girls...

"The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without the distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition." [WHO Constitution] Over the last two decades, the Eastern Mediterranean Region has been undergoing a number of radical social, political and...