Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq: a risk communication and community engagement success story
The challenge in Iraq Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks or contact with the blood and tissue of infected animals. The disease is characterized by fever, muscle aches, headache and bleeding and has a high fatality rate, ranging from 10%–40%. In Iraq, CCHF...
Saudi Disaster Medical Assistance Team achieves global classification
23 March 2025, Cairo, Egypt – On 12 March 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO)classified the Saudi Disaster Medical Assistance Team (SDMAT) as an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Type 2. The classification reflects SDMAT’s unwavering dedication and exceptional capabilities in disaster response and emergency medical care. The announcement followed a...
IHR amendments implementation: WHO subregional workshop for GCC countries
4 March 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In an increasingly interconnected world facing a growing number of complex health emergencies, strengthening global health security is vital. To address this critical need, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean convened a subregional workshop in Cairo from 11 to 13 February...
Strengthening infodemic management in Yemen
26 February 2025, Aden, Yemen – An infodemic is when too much information, including false and misleading information, circulates in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak. Infodemics can cause confusion and risk-taking behaviours that can harm health, lead to mistrust in health authorities and undermine the public health...
Strengthening global health security: WHO hosts a subregional training workshop in Oman
27 September 2024, Salalah, Oman – Strengthening global health security requires a coordinated response to public health emergencies. Recognizing this, the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean conducted a subregional training workshop in Salalah, Oman, focused on enhancing the capacities of national...
Enhancing preparedness: Egypt’s CBRN orientation workshop and functional drill
15 September 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Protecting communities from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats requires constant vigilance and preparedness. In a proactive move, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, in partnership with the WHO Country Office in Egypt and the Egyptian...
Collaborative approach to enhance CBRN emergency preparedness in Oman
The aim of the IHR is to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide19 December 2023 – In Muscat, Oman, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing Oman's ability to detect and respond to chemical,...
Strengthening response to radio-nuclear threats: a focus on clinical management in Kuwait
The aim of the IHR is to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide 10 February 2023 – In early February 2023, the Ministry of Health in Kuwait, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern...
Progress towards implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
27 December 2018 ─ “We must work together to make the world better prepared for health emergencies by measurably improving the resilience of our health systems,’’ was the core message conveyed from Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari to participants at the seventh regional stakeholders meeting to review the Implementation of International...
WHO Member States sign Khartoum Declaration on Sudan and Bordering Countries: Cross-Border Health Security
4 December 2018 – Six countries in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean and African Regions have signed a declaration committing themselves to strengthening preparedness and response to public health threats and events across borders in an effort to further the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and enhance global health...