10 October 2023 – In December 2021, at its second-ever special session, the World Health Assembly took a significant step by establishing an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) tasked with drafting and negotiating a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO). This...

10 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt – Dr Hanan Balkhy has today been nominated as the next WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. Member States voted to nominate Dr Balkhy during a closed meeting at the 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean. The nomination will be submitted to the WHO Executive Board...

11 October 2023 – The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted once again the importance of health workers in maintaining the health of populations and providing essential health services. It has also resulted in greater recognition of the critical role of the health workforce in delivering essential public health functions and responding to health...

10 October 2023 ‒ The urgency of ending polio was impressed upon Member States at the ninth meeting of the Regional Subcommittee for Polio Eradication and Outbreaks in the Eastern Mediterranean, held during the 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean . Endemic wild poliovirus is present only in the Eastern...

10 October 2023, Tripoli, Libya – Following the devastation wrought by Storm Daniel, hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Libya are mourning the loss of loved ones, homes, possessions and livelihoods. Tens of thousands more are desperately hoping for news of the nearly 9000 people who remain missing. WHO estimates that at least 1 in 5...

10 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt – Today, we mark World Mental Health Day 2023, the theme of which is “Mental health is a universal human right”. This year’s campaign calls on governments, politicians, health authorities, civil society and communities to place mental health at the top of health, development and humanitarian agendas. World Mental...

10 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt ‒ A report on WHO’s work in the Eastern Mediterranean Region over the past 5 years was presented on the second day of RC70. It documents the tremendous, tireless work carried out by our countries and territories and concerned stakeholders, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, to...

10 October 2023 ‒ In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community has taken decisive steps to strengthen global health security. Among these efforts, the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 stands as a pillar of collaboration and reform. IHR amendments: a vital initiative Member States...

9 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt ‒ The 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean¬, also known as RC70, was inaugurated this evening in Cairo, Egypt. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, addressed delegates after the opening...

9 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt – As ministers of health from countries and territories across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region gather in Cairo, Egypt, for the 70th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Region is facing an unprecedented onslaught of emergencies that are inflicting a profound and alarming impact...