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WHO to accelerate action on health agenda at UNGA High-Level Week
22 September 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The World Health Organization (WHO) will play an important role at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week, from 22 to 30 September 2025, where global leaders will gather to accelerate progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Health will be a central theme, with Heads of State and...
Senior health leaders from Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean conclude Rabat meeting with draft Statement of Intent
Rabat, 22 September 2025 – Senior health emergency leaders from across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean concluded a three-day meeting in Rabat by putting forward a draft Statement of Intent. The working document sets out the collective intention of WHO Member States in both regions to strengthen communication and trust, reinforce...
Remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the 4th Annual Meeting of UN Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis
22 September 2025 Excellencies, colleagues, friends, When we speak about liver disease, statistics can be overwhelming. But sometimes, a single life can shed light on an entire nation’s struggle against illness. Many of you will know Abdel Halim Hafez—the legendary Egyptian singer whose voice still moves hearts across the Arab world. He suffered...
WHO holds workshop on new vaccine introduction in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
The WHO held a three-day regional workshop on new vaccine introduction prioritization and sequencing, in Cairo, Egypt, from 31 August to 2 September 2025. The workshop brought together representatives from 14 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to strengthen national capacity for making proactive, evidence-informed decisions on the...
Tackling antimicrobial resistance and the collapse of microbiology diagnostics in Gaza
On 10 September 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean brought together an influential panel of more than 40 experts, health professionals ministry of health officials from Gaza and West Bank, and humanitarian organizations for a critical discussion on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Gaza...
Afghanistan’s hidden epidemic of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions
21 September 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are taking a heavy toll on Afghanistan health system. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung conditions account for 43% of deaths in the country, a figure expected to rise above 60% by 2030, mainly among women. Substance use and road traffic accidents further...
Opening remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Connecting Regional Health Emergency Leaders to advance Continental Health Security
16 September 2025 Morocco Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and partners, A very warm welcome to you all. I begin by thanking our generous hosts—His Excellency Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, and His Excellency Amine Tahraoui, Minister of Health and Social Protection of...
World Patient Safety Day 2025
Patient safety from the start! 16 September 2025, Cairo, Egypt – World Patient Safety Day, marked each year on 17 September, is an opportunity to raise public awareness, foster collaboration between stakeholders and mobilize to improve patient safety. The theme this year – “Safe care for every newborn and every child”, accompanied by the slogan...
WHO, Africa CDC, and Morocco launch Health Emergency Leaders Network for Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean
Rabat, 15 September 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), together with the Kingdom of Morocco, today opened a landmark meeting in Rabat to launch the Health Emergency Leaders Network for Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. This network is the first of its kind, bringing...
World Suicide Prevention Day 2025
10 September 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Each year, on 10 September, World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) – organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and co-sponsored by WHO – focuses global attention on suicide prevention, uniting communities, organizations and governments with the shared belief that suicidal behaviour is a...
