World Disability Day 2025: WHO Lebanon works to advance inclusive health 3 December 2025, Beirut, Lebanon – International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), celebrated every year on 3 December, provides a platform to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society, and an opportunity to assess – and...

04 December 2025 The Eastern Mediterranean Region stands at a decisive moment in the effort to eradicate polio. After the resurgence of 2023 and its peak in 2024, wild poliovirus transmission is now declining in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but progress is uneven. A few high-risk zones continue to sustain pockets of circulation that threaten gains...

Dr Hanan Balkhy addressing participants in the Regional Health Alliance’s meeting to accelerate equitable access to medical products across the Region. Photo credit: WHO/Mahmoud Essa 3 December 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Today, the Regional Health Alliance (RHA) concluded its meeting on strengthening regulatory systems, enhancing local production and...

Heads and representatives of UN agencies gathered in the WHO Regional Office to advance the WHO Flagship Initiative: “Investing in a Resilient Health Workforce.” Photo credit: WHO 2 December 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean hosted a Regional Health Alliance (RHA) hybrid meeting...

03 December 2025 Distinguished colleagues and partners, Good morning, and thank you for joining this important meeting of the Regional Health Alliance. I am very pleased to welcome the Regional Directors of UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNIDO, UNODC, and the World Bank. Your presence reflects our shared commitment to improving access to quality medical products...

WHO distributes assistive technology tools to older people and people living with disabilities in cooperation with local NGO, Islamic Republic of Iran. Photo credit: WHO 2 December 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) promotes the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and raises...

2 December 2025 Colleagues and partners, It is a pleasure to welcome you once again. Today we come together with a dedicated focus on one of our three flagship initiatives: Investing in a Resilient Health Workforce. This issue cuts across every mandate represented here, and today’s meeting is an important opportunity to align RHA members around a shared...

01 December 2025 It is an immense honour to be joined today by Professor Anthony Fauci, Professor Wafaa El-Sadr, and this extraordinary community of clinicians, researchers, and advocates who have dedicated their lives to combating one of the most formidable pathogens of our time. HIV has captivated me since my earliest days as a young physician...

1 December 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) is joining partners and communities around the globe to commemorate World AIDS Day 2025 under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”. There are an estimated 40.8 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) around the world, 610 000 of whom live in the...

24 November 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has issued the first WHO policy guidance document on antimicrobial resistance in conflict situations. The policy brief on addressing antimicrobial resistance in fragile and conflict-affected situations is intended to drive...