24 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – On 17 July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean launched the Regional Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention. A webinar held for the launch brought together civil society organizations (CSOs) working on mental health and substance use from across the...

Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva, 22 July 2025 - WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah, in the middle area of Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse. Following intensified hostilities in Deir al Balah after the latest evacuation order issued by...

20 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In her visit to Afghanistan from 29 June to 1 July 2025, WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy focused on polio eradication efforts, substance use treatment and other priority areas. Dr Balkhy met with national leaders and partners, including UN representatives and diplomats. In her meeting with the Minister of Public...

17 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The Regional Health Alliance (RHA) convenes today to accelerate efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health and support immunization and polio eradication across the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. The meeting will gather representatives from nine UN agencies and six priority...

17 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean joined with mental health partners and stakeholders to launch the Regional Coalition for Mental Health Promotion and Substance Use Prevention. The Coalition will provide a platform to align strategies and maximize collective...

6 July 2025  – Mycetoma is a slow-moving but destructive infectious disease that begins in the subcutaneous tissues and can invade the skin, deep tissues, muscle and bone. Caused by more than 70 microorganisms of bacterial or fungal origin, mycetoma thrives in tropical and subtropical environments where thorn injuries are common. Left untreated,...

23 June 2025, Dublin/Geneva—The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, warning that action is needed to maintain and accelerate progress in tobacco control as rising industry interference challenges tobacco policies and control efforts. The...

22 June 2025, Cairo, Egypt – June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about all forms of dementia. Worldwide, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and a major contributor to disability. The majority (61%) of the 55 million people living with dementia – a number that is expected to increase to...

19 June 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Substance use across the Eastern Mediterranean Region is growing among vulnerable groups, including migrants and displaced persons. This silent crisis, taking place in the shadow of conflict, displacement, marginalization and economic hardship, is compounded by the loss of social support networks. In 2022, 6.7% of...

06 June 2025 Q: Is there an increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean Region currently? COVID-19 cases are increasing all over the world, including in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The virus will continue to mutate and evolve, and this results in new variants that may cause surging trends. The current increases are...