International development, health and humanitarian agencies announce bold plans for Regional Health Alliance
Working together towards achieving Health For All By All 16 December 2021, Cairo – Motivated by their shared goal to achieve stronger collaboration and better health for all, international development, health and humanitarian agencies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and North Africa Region convened today for the second annual...
WHO and Kuwait Ministry of Health enhance health leadership with four-day course
Cairo, Kuwait, 14 December 2021-With a revived sense of urgency sparked by COVID-19 for innovative approaches to improve public health, WHO Country Office, in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Kuwait, organised a course titled Health Leadership for Positive Change from 6 to 9 December 2021 targeting mid and senior level officials at...
Universal Health Coverage Day: leave no one’s health behind 12 December 2021
12 December 2021, Dubai – Today, the world celebrates Universal Health Coverage Day – the annual rallying point for the growing movement to ensure the right to health for every one, everywhere. Universal Health Coverage Day marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ historic and unanimous endorsement of a resolution in 2012 urging countries to...
UNSSC and WHO build capacity of public health leaders amid uncertainty and crisis
9 December 2021 – The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) today hosted the final leadership lecture as part of their joint Leadership Programme on Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General. The leadership programme, which was...
Islamic Advisory Group reiterates commitment to polio eradication and public health priorities
9 December 2021, Cairo, Egypt – In its eighth annual meeting, the Islamic Advisory Group (IAG) reiterated its commitment to continue supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, echoing its trust in the safety and effectiveness of all routine childhood vaccinations as a lifesaving tool that aligns with Islamic shariah. The meeting further...
Walk The Talk: A Global Movement
9 December 2021 – We’re excited to announce the return of the global Walk the Talk: Health for All challenge this UHC Day. Hosted by the World Health Organization, in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai and the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates, this year’s 24-hour global walkathon will feature people of all ages and...
WHO strengthens response to attacks on health care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Cairo, 8 December 2021 – Nine countries and territories from the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region met last week for a 2-day workshop in Istanbul to prevent and advance WHO response to attacks on health care in complex humanitarian emergencies. The WHO European Centre on Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies and the Regional Office for...
Opening remarks of Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, at the COVID-19 press briefing, 1 December 2021
Cairo, 1 December 2021 – COVID-19 continues to take a toll on people’s lives and health across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond, spreading fear and frustration. The arrival of the new variant of concern Omicron has aggravated the situation and poses potential threats to the hard-won gains of the past two years. Recent trends of...
Statement by WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on COVID-19
Cairo, 28 November 2021. The emergence of the new COVID-19 variant of concern, Omicron, is a major cause of concern for the people of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region – just as it is across the world. As of 24 November, the Region has reported over 16.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 308,000 deaths since the start of the...
WHO leaders in the Region convene to boost resilience and effective delivery in countries
23 November 2021, Cairo – After almost three years with no physical meetings together, the WHO representatives in the countries of the Region and senior managers at the Regional Office regrouped for a collaborative retreat, with “Countries at the centre” as the main theme and core objective. “These retreats serve not only as an appropriate and...




