24 May 2017 – The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean convened a meeting for delegates of countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region as a side event at the Seventieth World Health Assembly. The meeting discussed the Sustainable Development Goals, polio eradication and emergencies. Sustainable Development Goals  Superseding the...

Geneva, 23 May 2017 – The Seventieth World Health Assembly (WHA) opened yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, and will take place until 31 May 2017. The Health Assembly is being attended by nearly 4000 delegates from WHO’s 194 Member States and partner organizations and is WHO’s highest decision-making body, setting out organizational policy and approving...

Cairo, Egypt, 18 May, 2017 — On this World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments, partners, communities and individuals to stop using tobacco and drive sustainable development. The slogan for this year’s Day is “Say no to tobacco”. Tobacco control can protect health, reduce poverty and promote development....

HE the Minister of Health and Population of Egypt Dr Ahmed Emad El Din Rady and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri at the opening of the fourth UN Road Safety Week in the Regional Office Cairo, Sunday 14 May 2017 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Ministry of...

11 May 2017, Sana’a, Yemen — The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are responding to an upsurge in cholera transmission in several parts of Yemen that has claimed 51 lives and caused around 2752 suspected cases since 27 April 2017. WHO has rapidly distributed medicines and medical supplies, including cholera kits, oral rehydration...

4 May 2017 – During the 13th session of the Prevention of Road Incidents World Congress on Road Safety, inaugurated in Tunis yesterday, Wednesday 3 May 2017, H.E. Tunisian Prime Minister Yousef El-Shahed honoured Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. The congress started its working sessions today. The first...

2 May 2017, Cairo – World Hand Hygiene Day, marked globally on 5 May, highlights the importance of hand hygiene in health care. The slogan of this year’s campaign is “Fight antibiotic resistance … it’s in your hands”, illustrating the important relationship between good infection prevention and control practices like washing your hands and...

WHO Representative Dr Naeema Al Ghasseer and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri meeting with the President of Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmad  El BashirKhartoum, 20 April 2017 – WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri has just concluded a 2-day visit to Sudan. During his visit, he met with the...

19 April 2017, Cairo – On the occasion of  World Immunization Week – celebrated annually between 24 and 30 April  – WHO highlights the vital importance of immunization as the most cost-effective preventative intervention in public health. Under the theme “#VaccinesWork”, World Immunization Week in 2017 calls on governments and all stakeholders to ensure...

H.E. the Minister of Public Health of Lebanon Ghasan Hasbani, WHO Regional Director Dr Mahmoud Fikri and Director-General of the Ministry of Health Dr Walid Ammar visit a vaccine storage warehouse in KarantinaBeirut, Lebanon, 10 April 2017 – WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Mahmoud Fikri and H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and...