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...

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 Arrangement (MoA) to establish a pooled procurement mechanism for public health supplies in the Eastern...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...