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The Statement of the Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy for the post RC 71 press conference
17 October 2024 Doha, Qatar Your Excellencies, Media colleagues, Distinguished guests, I would like to welcome you to this press conference. We have just concluded the 71st session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, which was held from 14 to 17 October 2024, and hosted by the State of Qatar. Before I start, I would like to...
WHO secures an additional US$ 18 million in partner funding
17 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – WHO has secured an additional US$ 18 million in funding commitments from key partners, to complement US$ 18 million already in the pipeline. The pledges, by ATscale – Global Partnership for Assistive Technology and the Hamdard Foundation, and the pledge by the Islamic Development Bank earmarking the Health Impact...
Addressing the increasing burden of trauma in humanitarian settings
16 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Each year nearly 5 million deaths occur because of trauma and a further 45 million sustain life changing injuries. This exceeds deaths caused by the combined effects of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. In 2023, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 8 Member States each recorded over 1000 conflict-related deaths (range...
Mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies
16 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Mental health is crucial for individuals, communities and nations to achieve their full potential. The Eastern Mediterranean Region is home to 40% of the world’s population in need of humanitarian assistance and hosts 55% of the world’s refugees. Over the past 7 decades, many of the Region’s countries and...
Introduction of the annual report and the Regional Director’s vision
Your Excellencies Ministers of Health and Heads of Delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my honour and pleasure to present my report on WHO’s work in the Region to you today. The annual report publication that was shared with you provides extensive information about WHO’s activities and achievements during 2023. It testifies to the hard work,...
Strengthening health information systems: a new regional strategy
16 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – Efficient health information systems (HISs) improve health outcomes and the management of health services by facilitating better-informed policies and planning. In many countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, however, health data are often incomplete, fragmented or of inadequate quality, hindering the...
Accelerating the response to antimicrobial resistance across the Region
16 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to health and health systems. The Global Burden of Disease study recently revealed that 1.14 million deaths were linked to bacterial AMR worldwide in 2021 and the World Bank estimated that after 2023 the global GDP shortfall due to AMR would exceed US$ 1 trillion...
Launch of the Eastern Mediterranean regional framework to strengthen immunization
15 October 2024, Doha, Qatar – Vaccines save over 4 million lives each year. Recognizing their critical role, in August 2020 the 73rd World Health Assembly adopted the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). This global initiative aims to enhance immunization efforts within primary health care systems. Access to essential vaccines remains a pressing...
Updates on the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body
15 October 2024 – In December 2021, the World Health Assembly established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), tasked with negotiating and drafting a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response efforts. The INB's mission is firmly grounded in the principles of...
Member States redouble commitments for a lasting polio-free world at RC71
15 October 2024 –The 12th meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks was held during the 71st session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region’s Regional Committee, marking another crucial step in the region’s pursuit of a polio-free future. The session witnessed robust participation, with a high number of...
